Members at Bannatyne Health Clubs will soon be able to charge their electric cars in less time than it takes to do a spin class.

Duncan Bannatyne’s health club empire is working with InstaVolt to install rapid DC chargers at its sites across the UK.

InstaVolt’s rapid DC charging stations charge at a rate of 50kW, meaning most electric cars could be fully charged in less time than it takes to do a typical spin class.

The installation of more than 70 rapid DC chargers is underway, with 56 already live, and the Bannatyne Group says more are likely to follow as EV sales continue to grow.

Figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) each month show that electric car sales in the UK have risen dramatically over the past few years. While only around 500 electric cars were registered per month during the first half of 2014, this has now risen to an average of almost 4,000 per month during 2017 according to data from nextgreencar.com

Bannatyne Group CEO Justin Musgrove said: “Our health clubs offer members the latest in fitness technology and keep ahead of all the latest trends, while aiming to maintain our environmental credentials.“Enabling members to charge their electric vehicles while using the health club is part of this commitment.”

Unlike many other firms, InstaVolt installs and maintains chargers for free and instead makes its money from the sale of electricity to drivers. It even gives site hosts a rental income for letting them use space to house the chargers.

CEO Tim Payne said: “As electric vehicles become more and more popular, it’s a no brainer for businesses to start offering charging points to customers. Both the Government and the private sector are in agreement that we need a reliable public charging network and companies like Bannatyne Group are helping to make that possible by making chargers available for drivers to use on their land.”

Like all of InstaVolt’s charging units, those at Bannatyne Health will be available for electric vehicle drivers to use on a subscription free, pay-as-you-go basis. Motorists simply tap their contactless credit or debit card, charge-up and go. Users are charged only for the electricity they use on a per-unit basis. There is no connection fee, minimum charge or monthly subscription fee.

The chargers are compatible with any electric car that is geared up for DC rapid charging.

Swedish pension funds AP1 and AMF have acquired shares in iZettle, investing a total of €20 million. The shares were acquired from early stage investors selling portions of their holdings.

The news follows the announcement of iZettle’s recent funding round of €40 million, led by venture capital firm Dawn and the Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund, AP4.

“We are pleased to welcome such renowned, long-term investors to iZettle. Today’s announcement means that we are able to offer AP1 and AMF a substantial holding and meaningful ownership in iZettle. We look forward to embarking on the next stage of our journey together,” says Jacob de Geer, co-founder and CEO of iZettle.

“Our mission is to deliver high, long-term returns while maintaining a low level of risk to the benefit of current and future pensioners. iZettle’s rapid yet sustainable growth and what they are doing for small businesses around the globe supports the potential we see in the company,” says Olof Jonasson, Head of Equities at Första AP-fonden, AP1.

“We are excited about the opportunity to invest in one of the most promising, innovative and fast growing Swedish tech companies of today. AMF’s mission is to deliver good and secure occupational pensions to our four million customers, and I believe that this investment has the potential to contribute to this in an good way. We look forward to follow iZettle more closely in the future,” says Anders Oscarsson, Head of Equities at AMF.

The majority of shares were acquired from Santander Innoventures, who will continue to retain a stake in iZettle.

About iZettle iZettle is on a mission to help small business succeed in a world of giants. Founded in Stockholm in 2010, the financial technology company revolutionized mobile payments with the world’s first mini chip card reader and software for mobile devices. Today iZettle’s commerce platform for small businesses in Europe and Latin America provides tools to get paid, sell smarter and grow your business. Find out more information about iZettle’s small business community at iZettle.com

About Första AP-fonden (AP1)Första AP-fonden (AP1) is one of five AP-funds, which ensures stability in the Swedish national income pension system. AP1’s assets under management totals SEK 323 billion (30 June 2017) and the global portfolio consists of equities, fixed income securities and alternative investments. Första AP-fonden is a long-term investor and an active owner. In its role as owner, the Fund places high demands in the areas of environmental, social and corporate governance.

About AMFAMF is the pension company for everyone looking for simple and reliable pension solutions that deliver high returns at a low cost. AMF manages approximately SEK 600 billion in assets for 4 million customers. AMF is owned equally by the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and operated on mutual principles, entailing that all profits are returned to the customers.

January 2018

Off Grid Electric Secures $55 Million

Off Grid Electric Secures $55 Million

San Francisco - January 2018

Off Grid Electric Secures $55 Million Series D Funding, Expands Footprint in Africa with EDF

Off Grid Electric – a leading rooftop solar provider in Africa, where it’s known by its consumer brand Zola – today announced major growth initiatives for the company, including expansion and funding. Off Grid Electric and EDF, a global leader in low-carbon energies, will expand their partnership in West Africa by offering off-grid solar solutions to households in Ghana. To support continued expansion and new product development, Off Grid Electric has secured the largest venture equity investment into Africa – $55 million in Series D funding led by Helios, acting on behalf of funds it advises, with support from GE Ventures and existing investors.

More than 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa live without electricity, and those who do have electricity are often plagued by an unreliable grid. Meanwhile, solar power is Africa’s most abundant but least utilized source of energy generation. Off Grid Electric, through its consumer brand Zola, combines Silicon Valley technology with local expertise to offer African homes and businesses rooftop solar as a solution to an unreliable or non-existent grid. Off Grid Electric currently provides power to more than 150,000 homes and businesses across Tanzania, Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana.

“2017 was a memorable year for Off Grid Electric. We achieved operating profitability in our largest market, launched a transformative new phase of product and technology development, and established clear market leadership in four African markets,” said Xavier Helgesen, co-founder and CEO, Off Grid Electric.

Series D Investment Round

Off Grid Electric’s $55 million Series D funding was led by Helios Investment Partners, with support from GE Ventures, the venture capital subsidiary of General Electric. Helios is one of the few independent pan-African private investment firms founded and led by Africans, and has built a reputation as a partner of choice on the continent with successful investments across sectors and geographies.

“We are excited to work closely with Helios and GE Ventures to accelerate our next stage of growth. They join a roster of strategic and capital partners that is already the strongest in the industry, including Tesla, Total, EDF, DBL Partners, Zouk Capital, Vulcan Capital, and Omidyar Network,” added Bill Lenihan, President, Off Grid Electric.

“As the largest private equity firm exclusively focused on Africa, energy access is a priority theme for Helios. Our strategy is to build market-leading platform businesses in core sectors of the continent’s larger economies. We believe the innovative platform OGE is developing will play an important role in Africa’s electricity future, and have a positive impact on the lives of Africans” said Tope Lawani, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Helios Partners.

“Approximately one-third of the world’s electricity is generated by GE equipment, but millions of people still lack access to reliable power. We are excited to partner with Off Grid Electric to expand access to clean affordable energy in sub-Saharan Africa and scale its impact,” said Daniel Hullah, Managing Director of Energy Investments at GE Ventures.

Expansion to Ghana

Off Grid Electric and EDF first partnered for a joint venture in Côte d’Ivoire in November 2016. This was the first large-scale operational partnership between a global energy company and a leading off-grid solar company. Together, Off Grid Electric and EDF aim to expand their market leadership in Côte d’Ivoire and create thousands of new jobs ranging from call-center employees to sales managers to technicians.

Building on their success in Côte d’Ivoire, where the company already has over 10,000 customers, Off Grid Electric and EDF are expanding their partnership to Ghana. Both companies will operate and share financial risks.

The Ghanaian company CH Group will join Off Grid Electric and EDF, and hold a 20% share in the partnership.

“For us, the sale of 10,000 off-grid kits in Côte d’Ivoire within the space of just a few months is living proof of the appeal and efficiency offered by off-grid solutions. We are delighted to be entering the Ghana market with Off Grid Electric and are already putting together innovative new off-grid solutions to support the energy transition in Africa. Off-grid power is thus becoming a strong contributor to the expansion of our business and fits perfectly into our CAP2030 strategy, which aims to triple the EDF Group’s international business outside of Europe by year 2030,” said Marianne Laigneau, Group Senior Executive Vice-President at EDF in charge of the International Division

About Off Grid Electric

Off Grid Electric, through its consumer brand Zola, combines Silicon Valley technology with local expertise to offer African homes and businesses rooftop solar as a solution to an unreliable or nonexistent grid. Adaptable to both energy needs and income, Off Grid Electric’s solution can be bought over time through a leasing structure. The first few watts starts a chain reaction that enables people to achieve commonly held aspirations: security, education, access to information, and a longer and more efficient day. Today, Off Grid Electric powers more than 150,000 homes and businesses across Tanzania, Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana. Off Grid Electric’s investors include: Tesla, Vulcan Capital, DBL Partners, Helios Investment Partners, EDF, Total, and GE Ventures. Off Grid Electric is the recipient of the 2016 UN Momentum for Change Award, Zayed Future Energy Prize, and the 2015 Global Cleantech 100. For more information, visit offgrid-electric.com.

December 2017

iZettle secures €40 million

iZettle secures €40 million

Stockholm - December 2017

iZettle secures €40 million to accelerate growth

iZettle, the leading small business commerce platform in Europe and Latin America, today announces it has raised €40 million in funding to accelerate its growth strategy and product innovation. The round is led by early backer venture capital firm Dawn and The Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund and is supported by existing investors.

“iZettle is currently in an extensive expansion phase and is in an unique position to make a difference for millions of small businesses. Through today’s announcement we’re able to allocate additional resources in order to accelerate our ambitious growth plan and product innovation. I’m proud to welcome such renowned, long-term investors to the iZettle family.” says Jacob de Geer, co-founder and CEO of iZettle.

The Swedish company revolutionised mobile payments in 2011 and has rapidly moved beyond payments to become a small business commerce platform, offering small businesses tools to take payments, register and track sales and to get funding.

Today, iZettle is one of Europe’s fastest growing companies present in 12 markets in Europe and Latin America.“iZettle gives small businesses the digital tools they need to gain the competitive edge against big corporations, which is crucial in today’s technology driven market place. The company is a true disruptor and we are delighted to be co-leading the round in one of Europe’s signature fintech businesses, as it continues its expansion drive.” says Josh Bell, General Partner at Dawn.“We invest heavily in companies contributing to sustainable economic growth and are impressed by how iZettle has levelled the playing field for small businesses. We believe in iZettle’s long-term development opportunity through their data-rich technology platform, built for scalability combined with five years of unique insights about the needs of small businesses, which makes it an attractive investment case.” says Per Colleen, Head of Fundamental Equities at The Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund.

About iZettle

iZettle is on a mission to help small businesses succeed in a world of giants. Based in Stockholm, the financial technology company revolutionized mobile payments in 2011 with the world’s first mini chip card reader and software for mobile devices. Today, iZettle’s small business commerce platform provides tools to take payments, to register and track sales and to get funding. Join the iZettle small business community at iZettle.com

November 2017

InstaVolt is ‘one to watch’

InstaVolt is ‘one to watch’

Basingstoke, UK - November 2017

Electric vehicle charging firm InstaVolt has been named as ‘one to watch’ by experts in the clean energy industry.

InstaVolt, which installs, operates and maintains rapid electric vehicle chargers across the United Kingdom, features in the 2017 Global Cleantech 100 Ones to Watch list, produced by Cleantech Group.

The coveted list highlights companies that are catching the eye of leading investors and corporates in the market. InstaVolt attracted the judges’ attention having secured £12m investment from cleantech private equity specialists Zouk Capital, together with signing a multi-million pound deal with US giant ChargePoint in the last 12 months.

“The Global Cleantech 100 programme is our annual in-depth research exercise to identify the innovation companies leading players in the market are most excited by right now,” said Cleantech Group’s CEO, Richard Youngman. “By the nature of the list, the Ones to Watch truly represent the next cadre of exciting disruptive companies.”

Tim Payne, CEO of InstaVolt, said: “Our strategy has been to not only build the UK’s most comprehensive rapid charge network but also to contribute to the general conversation about the transition to electrification, so we’re delighted to be considered as one to watch. We’re determined to challenge the status quo when it comes to electric vehicle charging so we wear the badge of ‘disruptive company’ with pride.”

While the electric vehicle charging market is relatively new, InstaVolt has been quick to make its mark on the industry. In May it signed a multi-million pound deal with Silicon Valley giant and global leader ChargePoint to bring hundreds of its brand-new rapid chargers to the UK. It’s currently installing chargers in locations including petrol forecourts, car parks and leisure facilities.

Unlike many other charging companies, its units are available for all electric vehicle drivers to use on a pay-as-you-go, subscription-free basis. Motorists simply tap their contactless credit or debit card, charge-up and go. Users are charged only for the electricity they use on a per-unit basis.

There is no connection fee, minimum charge or monthly subscription fee. It also installs the charging units for free and even pays landowners a regular rental income for housing them. In the case of local authorities, it means that councils can install electric vehicle charging points on their land for free, at no cost to the taxpayer.

This year, a record number of nominations for the annual Global Cleantech 100 list were received: 12,300 distinct companies from 61 countries. These companies were weighted and scored to create a short list of 312 companies, with these nominees reviewed by the 86 members of Cleantech Group’s Expert Panel. The Ones to Watch list, a sister list to the annual Global Cleantech 100 list, is created from the top 250 of the shortlist. To qualify for either list, companies must be independent, for-profit cleantech companies that are not listed on any major stock exchange.

November 2017

Solarcentury joins forces with Capital Stage AG

Solarcentury joins forces with Capital Stage AG

London, UK - November 2017

Solarcentury is joining forces with major continental investor Capital Stage AG in a move that will accelerate Solarcentury’s continued expansion overseas.

Under the terms of the jointly owned framework vehicle announced today, the initial focus will be on developing, acquiring and operating over 1GWp of major solar assets in the UK, Netherlands, France, Spain and Mexico. Our partner Capital Stage already operates over 200 solar and wind parks and has been seeking an experienced partner to expand its portfolio. Under the framework agreement both companies will jointly own the respective assets which will be realised within the next 3 years.

Frans van den Heuvel, CEO Solarcentury, said: “Today’s announcement confirms Solarcentury’s existing status as a major international developer and independent power producer. With offices in nine countries on four continents and with a development pipeline of over 2.5GWp, Solarcentury makes the perfect partner for Capital Stage. With this framework agreement Solarcentury becomes a fully integrated platform that develops, constructs and operates solar and storage assets. It’s also a huge vote of confidence in UK solar and storage experience and expertise, something that Solarcentury has been exporting successfully into multiple markets over many years. Our exciting partnership with Capital Stage will further boost Solarcentury’s advanced international expansion plans, particularly in our core target markets throughout Europe and Latin America.”

September 2017

EIB provides €30million for iZettle’s research and development

EIB provides €30million for iZettle’s research and development

- September 2017

iZettle, a Swedish financial technology company, will receive EUR 30 million in debt funding from the European Investment Bank in the coming three years. The funds are earmarked for research and development of financial and commercial tools that address the needs of smaller companies. The transaction comes under the European Growth Finance Facility, which benefits from the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the heart of the Investment Plan for Europe.

iZettle provides services through a state-of-the-art technology which allows small companies to take payments, to register sales and to get funding. The EIB financing will support iZettle’s research and development programme in four key business areas: development of next generation’s payments infrastructure, insights and actions through machine learning and artificial intelligence; digitalisation of commerce processes and scaling legislative and compliance systems.

EIB-Vice President Alexander Stubb said: “This loan is something that the EIB is proud of: It stands testimony to EIB’s ongoing effort to improve the access to funding for European mid-cap companies. iZettle is a young and innovative company which helps digitalise our economy and improves the business and cost structure of millions of small shops.”

“We’re proud to receive this stamp of approval from the EIB. It’s the type of offer you can’t refuse and it will allow us to further accelerate our growth and continue to level the playing field for small businesses, giving them access to tools to take on the big corporations” said Jacob de Geer, CEO and co-founder of iZettle.

European Commission Vice-President Katainen, responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, commented: “With the support of the European Fund for Strategic Investments, the EIB continues to support truly innovative companies and project ideas, such as this one in Sweden with iZettle. I wish the company every success in their research and development programme. I hope other small businesses are inspired to also apply to the EIB’s partners for financing to innovate, expand their activities and create jobs.”

BACKGROUND

About iZettle iZettle is on a mission to democratise commerce. Based in Stockholm, the financial technology company revolutionized mobile payments in 2011 with the world’s first mini chip card reader and software for mobile devices. Today, iZettle is a one-stop shop for commerce for small businesses around the world, using iZettle’s simple and powerful tools to take payments, to register and track sales and to get funding. Join us at iZettle.com

About EIB The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals. In 2016 alone, the Bank made available nearly EUR 1.7bn in loans for Swedish projects.

About The Investment Plan for Europe The Investment Plan for Europe focuses on strengthening European investments to create jobs and growth. It does so by making smarter use of new and existing financial resources, removing obstacles to investment, providing visibility and technical assistance to investment projects. The Investment Plan is already showing results. The projects and agreements approved for financing under the EFSI so far are expected to mobilise EUR 225 billion in total investments across 28 Member States and to support 445 000 SMEs. On 14 September 2016, the Commission proposed extending the EFSI by increasing its firepower and duration as well as reinforcing its strengths.

May 2017

Readly raises €13m Series B

Readly raises €13m Series B

- May 2017

Readly, the digital magazine newsstand, today announced it has raised €13m in additional funding to drive the next stage of its development. The series B funding comes from Zouk Capital and Hermes GPE as well as from existing shareholders. In addition, Channel 4’s Commercial Growth Fund and Aggregate Media Fund also participated in the round. The company will use the funds to further its international expansion and support growth in its existing markets.

“With the smartphone and tablet at the heart of providing entertainment and education, it is unsurprising that the demand for accessing a huge variety of magazines via an app has become second nature. This new round of funding allows Readly to bring more titles to a wider audience in more countries and fulfil our aim of being at the cutting edge of the revolution in digital publishing. We have seen dramatic growth over the past twelve months, with 100% increase in paying subscribers in 2016 and these growth rates are continuing into 2017. We are delighted to have the support of our existing investors and to welcome new partners on board,” said Per Hellberg, CEO Readly.

Readly offers an app for tablets and smartphones that lets customers have unlimited access to thousands of national and international magazines for a fixed monthly subscription. The service offers fast download and easy, intuitive use so that the reader can read digital magazines effortlessly. Currently the service includes 2000 titles from over 400 publishers.

Nathan Medlock, General Partner at Zouk Capital added, “Readly is already the European market leader in providing unlimited-access digital magazine content. Globally, the consumer magazine market is worth nearly €35bn and Readly is at the forefront of the digital revolution that is transforming this space. Readly plays to our own strengths and expertise in technology growth investing as well as demonstrating a clear sustainability benefit.”

About Readly

Readly is a digital service that lets customers have unlimited, “all-you-can-read” access to thousands of national and international magazines in one app – both streamed and downloaded. Readly was launched in Sweden in March 2013 and now has offices also in the UK and Germany and a rapidly growing user base in more than 50 countries. The service is ultra-fast, easy-to-use and convenient – each subscriber can access magazines on up to 5 devices. In addition to all the consumer benefits, Readly offers a powerful, risk-free route to market for publishers who can also track and analyse how their content is being consumed. www.readly.com

May 2017

InstaVolt signs with Chargepoint

InstaVolt signs with Chargepoint

- May 2017

InstaVolt signs multi-million-pound deal with ChargePoint.

InstaVolt has signed a multi-million-pound deal with the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging network.The Basingstoke firm has signed an agreement with Silicon Valley giant ChargePoint to purchase more than 200 of its electric vehicle rapid charging solutions. They will be installed later this year, marking the first time the rapid charging systems will be deployed in the UK. InstaVolt, which installs and maintains electric vehicle charging points at places such as forecourts and service stations, will begin installing the first of the ChargePoint ‘Express Plus’ rapid charge systems this summer. They will be strategically placed close to popular routes across the country, enabling drivers to easily charge their vehicles during long journeys.

The Express Plus charging systems, which can add hundreds of miles of range in as quick as 15 minutes, have been designed to be future-proof. The modular charging platform is built to scale as demand grows. Tim Payne, CEO at InstaVolt, said: “ChargePoint will fulfil two important criteria for us: the charging units are future-proofed so the units can be configured to meet the precise requirements of any site and can be scaled incrementally as demand for higher rate charging increases. This is particularly important as EV manufacturers begin to bring out new models with increased battery capacity. We are also committed to making sure the units are working 24/7 and so the reliability of the ChargePoint product is one of the cornerstones of our offer.” The deal between InstaVolt and ChargePoint comes after the American company secured $82 million in investments as part of its latest funding round to help it break into Europe. Simon Lonsdale, Vice President, Business Development, ChargePoint, Inc added: “InstaVolt has raised millions to install a DC rapid charge network country-wide across the UK. We are two companies that are committed to e-mobility in Europe, accelerating the driving revolution by making e-mobility a part of everyday life. InstaVolt is well positioned to help expand EV charging in the UK and are a great partner in this effort.” InstaVolt, headquartered in Basingstoke, aims to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions by making the UK an easier place to drive an electric vehicle. According to Government statistics, one of the biggest barriers that deters people from buying electric vehicles is the fear of not being able to recharge. InstaVolt aims to change this by introducing thousands of rapid charging points all over the country.

January 2017

ip.access team up with T-Mobile Poland on customer analytics

ip.access team up with T-Mobile Poland on customer analytics

- January 2017

ip.access and T-Mobile Poland, have today announced the successful completion of a Proof of Concept focussed around delivering enhanced retail based customer analytics.

The first stage of this activity saw T-Mobile install PRESENCETM sensors in retail stores in Warsaw. The solution enables T-Mobile to recognise subscribers as they enter the store. Since there are more than 5 million T-Mobile subscribers with opt-in consents the amount of data analysed thanks to ip.access PRESENCETM sensors is tremendous and there is no other player on the market that can provide such complex analysis on the market at this moment.

From a retail perspective, PRESENCETM sensors gather rich analytical data which provide retailers with actionable consumer behaviour insights, as well as the ability to provide personalised marketing promotions when entering selected areas. Importantly the technology does not require any handset modifications or applications, nor does it need Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to be switched on, making it a universal solution.

T-Mobile has been also evaluating how to enhance mobile subscribers experience within their own points of sales located in Poland, and the ip.access PRESENCETM service provides the most insight, accuracy and ease of deployment. The PRESENCETM sensors fit within the operator’s privacy and permissions frameworks. The high quality data captured by the PRESENCETM sensor provides T-Mobile with intelligence in a uniquely valuable way.

Michal Krauze, Business Lead Data Monetisation for T-Mobile commented, “We have been assessing a variety of solutions to enable us to serve our B2B retail customers with better insights. However only ip.access accomplished this task and helped us with harnessing data on a geographical level that was not accessible before – inside any retail store.”

"This innovative collaboration is particularly exciting for us, as it's the first proof point within T-Mobile for this high value monetisation model." explains Malcolm Gordon, CEO at ip.access. "We look forward to co-operating further with the T-Mobile Group as they expand their PRESENCETM sensor derived offerings” adds Gordon.

About ip.access

Headquartered in the United Kingdom, ip.access originates the best-in-class wireless solutions that maximise the value of radio and data assets via disruptive business models. The company has products and solutions live in over 100 customers’ networks around the world.

ip.access has an end-to-end deployment philosophy that integrates its PRESENCETM sensors and small cell access points of all technologies with data management platforms, access gateways and comprehensive network management and performance tools. With a strong track record of working with trusted partners on integrated solutions, both product and services led, ip.access unlocks spectrum value for all its customers.

A service that empowers you to monetise location data across the broadest set of use cases such as Retail Footfall, Outdoor Digital Media, Events, Card Payment Verification, Transport, Smart Buildings and Geo-fencing delivered against a robust Privacy, Permissions & Policy framework.

Irrespective of your data set requirements [licensed spectrum, unlicensed or BLE], we have a proven solution which delivers rapid ROI and the ability to open up new markets and revenue streams.

As part of the ip.access portfolio of products, PRESENCETM has delivered excellence in the field of micro proximity having been selected as sole vendor for a number of Global Telco, Financial Services, Retail and IoT customers.

January 2017

iZettle raises €60 million and appoints new CFO

iZettle raises €60 million and appoints new CFO

- January 2017

Funds to fuel expansion of product offering and prepare the company for next stages of growth

Senior executive Maria Hedengren brings more than 20 years of experience from global finance and business management

iZettle, one of the fastest growing technology companies in Europe and EMEA, today announces it has raised €60 million in funding and appointed a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Maria Hedengren.

The latest round of funding is made up of equity from existing investors in a Series D extension as well as debt funding from US based, Victory Park Capital via its credit fund, VPC Speciality Lending PLC. The funds will be used to further grow iZettle’s offering to ensure it continuously innovates and keeps supporting the needs of small businesses in Europe and Latin America.

“We have been following the impressive growth of iZettle since its inception. iZettle is an innovator and a clear market leader in Europe and we want to be part of its next chapter of growth. 2017 promises to be a vibrant and buoyant time for both iZettle and its market,” said Gordon Watson, Partner at Victory Park Capital.

In addition to the funding, iZettle has appointed Maria Hedengren as CFO to lead preparations for the processes and financial plans required to take iZettle into its next phase.

Formerly serving as CFO of the publicly listed NetEnt AB (publ), a platform and games provider to some of the world’s largest casino and sportsbetting operators, Hedengren has more than 20 years experience leading both private and public companies and a proven track record of scaling companies internationally.

“Maria’s passion is gearing companies for growth and is exactly the type of person we need to get ready for the plans we have for 2017 and beyond,” says Jacob de Geer, founder and CEO of iZettle. “We are obviously impressed with the work that Maria has done for other fast moving tech companies, many of which live in heavily regulated environments like ours, and are more than excited by what she brings to the table”.

The past year has seen iZettle move into new areas, adding loyalty features and further bolstering its offering via the acquisition of intelligentpos, the UK’s leading cloud based point of sale provider, creating a ‘one-stop-shop’ for commerce in store and on the go for growing businesses.

Sigfox, the world’s leading provider of connectivity for the Internet of Things (IoT), today announced it is closing its Series E funding round of €150 million to accelerate the expansion of its global network and soon reach worldwide coverage.

Salesforce, Total, Henri Seydoux, Alto Invest, Swen CP and Tamer Group will join Sigfox as new investors. Existing shareholders including Bpifrance, Elliott, Intel Capital, Air Liquide, Idinvest Partners and IXO, will also re-invest in the company. Additional new investors are also expected to join this financing round shortly to reach the €150 million level.

The IoT opens up new and exciting opportunities by connecting the physical world to the Internet. With its global network, Sigfox gives a voice to billions of objects, thus allowing them to play a pivotal role in our social and economic development.

In just five years, Sigfox has built a unique global wireless network that provides a simple, efficient connectivity offer, enabling devices to connect to the cloud at ultra low-cost and using minimal energy. No other network than Sigfox’s has a worldwide footprint and can claim to connect fully autonomous energy harvesting objects. Thanks to Sigfox, every object will connect to the cloud at minimal cost, by relying only on the surrounding energy sources. This promise, along with the significant developments made by the company over the past 18 months, have contributed to the successful closing of this round of funding.

With more than 10 million objects registered on its network and coverage currently spanning 26 countries, Sigfox is reinforcing its position as a global leader in the IoT. This new round of funding will enable the company to expand its international network to 60 countries by 2018 and reach financial breakeven point.

The company sees Industry 4.0 as one of the main growth paths driving the development of the IoT. The need for predictive maintenance as well as the continued evolution of its business model towards more services are some of the reasons behind Total’s decision to join Engie and Air Liquide as active shareholders supporting Sigfox’s international development.

“We are pleased to support the development of SigFox because the technology offered by the company can be critical to accelerate the deployment of the Internet of Things. This is their lead acquired on the market in a short time and their ability to accelerate the deployment scale IoT solutions that motivated our investment, “commented Patrick Pouyanné, Managing Director of Total. “This type of solution will improve the performance and operational safety of industrial operations, reduce operating costs, but also be used to better serve our customers.”

Another key opportunity is the optimisation of industrial processes leveraging big data. For this reason, Sigfox plans to integrate with Salesforce’s IoT Cloud, thereby enabling richer customer journeys across global consumer and business use cases. By connecting unconnected objects, Sigfox can facilitate deeper experiences via its global, homogenous and scalable network.

Intel Capital, Idinvest Partners and IXO PE, which are historical shareholders of SIGFOX, actively participated in this round.

“We strongly believe that Sigfox has unlocked the IoT connectivity bottleneck and will bring billions of objects online in the near future. Its cost effective, easy to use, open platform solution is set to become the standard for low power object connectivity, bringing massive productivity gains to the corporate world and everyday benefits to end customers”, said Franck Tuil, Elliott’s Senior Portfolio Manager.

“I created Parrot 22 years ago, and I know how much it takes to carry out ambitious projects on a large scale. I am impressed by the huge progress made by Sigfox over the last 3 years I have spent as a member of Sigfox’s board of directors. I am now convinced of the colossal growth potential of the market Sigfox successfully addresses. Alongside the financial investment I am making today in the company, I am willing to provide Sigfox’s management with my support as an entrepreneur”, said Henri Seydoux, CEO of Parrot.

“The Internet of Things is one of the next big transformational technologies, and we are proud to support Sigfox as the infrastructure leader. We are pleased to see a strong startup ecosystem being built around this world-class technology.”, said Paul François Fournier, Executive Director of Bpifrance.

Commenting on the announcement, Xavier Drilhon, deputy CEO of Sigfox said, “I joined Sigfox 18 months ago because of the incredibly powerful vison of its founders and the unique positioning of the company as a fundamental enabler of the IoT revolution. Our rapid international expansion made possible thanks to the support of our local operators, as well as the growth of our ecosystem, were key to securing this new fundraising. This will allow the company to accelerate the deployment of its network from 26 countries today to over 60 within the next two years, representing 90 per cent of the worldwide GDP.”

“When Ludovic Le Moan and I met in 2010, we agreed that Sigfox could change the world by bringing the virtual and physical worlds together through a new paradigm based on the fundamental principles of astrophysics. Today, we have created the equivalent of the world's largest radio telescope for IoT. Our network is able to connect hundreds of billions of objects to the Internet through advanced radio techniques.”

The round comprises a “greenshoe” that will allow new strategic and financial partners to join the share capital of Sigfox shortly.

Lazard and Goldman Sachs acted as financial advisors to Sigfox, with Skadden acting as legal advisor.

About SIGFOXSigfox is the world’s leading provider of connectivity for the Internet of Things (IoT). The company has built a global network to connect billions of devices to the Internet while consuming as little energy as possible, as simply as possible.Sigfox’s unique approach to device-to-cloud communications addresses the three greatest barriers to global IoT adoption: cost, energy consumption, and global scalability. Today, the network is present in 26 countries and on track to cover 60 by 2018 – covering a population of 397 million people. With millions of objects connected and a rapidly growing partner ecosystem, Sigfox empowers companies to create new innovations on the IoT. Founded in 2010 by Ludovic Le Moan and Christophe Fourtet, the company is headquartered in Labège near Toulouse, France’s “IoT Valley”. Sigfox also has offices in Paris, Madrid, Munich, Boston, San Francisco, Dubai and Singapore. www.sigfox.com

November 2016

Off Grid Electric and EDF team up

Off Grid Electric and EDF team up

- November 2016

Off Grid Electric and EDF team up to offer new off-grid solar power solution for rural West Africa

· First large-scale operational partnership between a global energy company and a leading off-grid solar company.

· Off Grid Electric's experience in Tanzania and EDF's experience in South Africa shows that households using these services have reduced emissions from kerosene and black carbon by 1.45 kg per year.

· Off Grid Electric, a leading distributed solar company in Africa, and EDF, a global leader in low-carbon energies, today announced a partnership to supply competitive off-grid solar energy in Africa. This partnership will take the initial form of a joint venture - ZECI - in Ivory Coast, announced on the occasion of the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP) held by the United Nations in Marrakech, Morocco. This first joint venture aims to supply power to nearly 2 million people in Ivory Coast by year 2020, with plans to rapidly extend the partnership's initiatives to other countries in the region.

Within the scope of this joint venture, ZECI, EDF and Off Grid Electric will install and maintain solar kits for rural and peri-urban households1. These individual kits include solar panels, which are easy to install, along with batteries for storing energy. Payment can be made through the simple use of a mobile phone. Customers will therefore have access to lighting and will be able to power a suite of energy-efficient household appliances including television sets, radios, fans and mobile phone chargers.
Rolling out this initiative in West Africa will create thousands of new sustainable jobs (over 1000 jobs in Ivory Coast alone), from sales managers to call-centre employees, who will benefit from Off Grid Electric and EDF in-house training. Giving customers the option to use a renewable energy source like solar energy also benefits the environment by replacing candles, paraffin, and kerosene.
"We're thrilled to partner with EDF, an industry leader whose presence in Africa, combined with its experience, will enable us to grow Off Grid Electric's footprint across the continent," said Bill Lenihan, President and CFO, Off Grid Electric. "Access to reliable energy is a challenge throughout Africa and our partnership with EDF will help us to meet this challenge. Through energy independence, we hope to see households and communities seize new opportunities."
"Off Grid Electric is the perfect partner for EDF, with its excellent knowledge of the African continent and a proven track record of providing innovative and competitive solar solutions," said Simone Rossi, EDF Group Senior Executive Vice President, International Division.
He also stressed that "EDF is delighted to partner with Off Grid Electric, thus enabling the latter to benefit from the Group's extensive expertise in the area of customer relations. This will be an opportunity for us to share the experience we have gathered from supplying energy to more than 30 million customers worldwide, to the advantage of new customers in West Africa."

Off Grid Electric will be receiving the UNFCCC's Momentum for Change 2016 Award at COP22. The Momentum for Change initiative is spearheaded by the UN Climate Change secretariat to shine a light on some of the most innovative, scalable and replicable examples of what people are doing to address climate change.

1 According to the World Bank, 62% of Africans in the sub-Saharan region live in rural areas with hardly any access to electrical grids.

About Off Grid Electric
Off Grid Electric (OGE) provides clean, affordable and transformative energy directly to more than 100,000 households and businesses in Tanzania and Rwanda that have never had access to reliable electricity. Through its solar leasing model, OGE removes financial risk to customers and offers the latest in technology for less than or equal to a household's average energy spend. OGE is the leading scalable distributed energy company and operates under the consumer brand, Zola, in Tanzania and Rwanda. OGE's investors include: SolarCity, Vulcan Capital, DBL Partners, The Packard Foundation, Helios Investment Partners, and resonsAbility. For more information, visit offgrid-electric.com.

About EDF
A key player in energy transition, the EDF Group is an integrated electricity company, active in all areas of the business: generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply and trading, energy services. A global leader in low-carbon energies, the Group has developed a diversified generation mix based on nuclear power, hydropower, new renewable energies and thermal energy. The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to approximately 37.6 million customers, including 27.8 million in France. The Group generated consolidated sales of €75 billion in 2015 with 47.2% of this figure being generated outside of France. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.
EDF has 15 years of experience in the off-grid sector and in the running of electricity companies in five different African countries – from Morocco to South Africa – with a 100,000- customer portfolio.

September 2016

va–Q-tec lists on Frankfurt Stock Exchange

va–Q-tec lists on Frankfurt Stock Exchange

- September 2016

Zouk Capital is delighted to announce that va-Q-tec, the global leader in high-end vacuum insulation, has today listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. va-Q-tec develops, manufactures and sells highly efficient products and solutions for thermal insulation, including innovative, energy and space saving panels and storage components. The company has a fleet of transport containers and boxes deployed within a global logistics network fulfilling highly demanding thermal protection standards in supply chains where temperature is a critical factor. va-Q-tec’s technology platform is secured by more than 80 patents and patent applications and has also received numerous awards for its innovative and energy-efficient technologies, including the ‘Technology Pioneer’ award at the 2013 World Economic Forum.

The management team at va-Q-tec has delivered exceptional growth and seen strong demand for its products and solutions. Having expanded geographically and across multiple sectors, including through vertical integration, va-Q-tec has built the next generation of passive cold chain transport solutions, with an insulation performance of up to 200 hours of minimal temperature change, without using any external energy sources. This solution has been delivered as a global full-service rental offer to customers from the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, where temperature sensitive medications have to be shipped internationally under stringent and regulated storage conditions.

Having invested in 2011 from its second growth equity fund, Zouk was the largest institutional shareholder prior to the IPO, and held a 33 percent stake in the company. The funds raised from the IPO will be used to provide capital for investments, which will fuel future growth. Yesterday, after a successful roadshow, va-Q-tec priced its offering at EUR 12.30 a share. Zouk has partially exited and will continue to work closely with the management team in order to support the business.

Samer Salty, CEO of Zouk, commented, “We believe strongly in the long term growth of the business under the leadership of Joachim Kuhn and Christopher Hoffmann and we are looking forward to our continued collaboration.”

Taulia, the financial supply chain company, today announced a record breaking first half of the fiscal year, more than doubling its bookings for the second quarter compared with the same time period last year. There are now more than 1,000,000 buyer and supplier relationships in Taulia's network, and they transacted close to $30 billion across the platform between February 1 and July 31 of this year.

In Q1 and Q2 of Taulia's current fiscal year, the company has signed a number of the world's biggest brands, including Airgas, Bacardi-Martini and Kimberly Clark. Taulia maintains a 100 percent customer retention rate since launching its platform in 2009. Through its new customers, the company has onboarded more than 68,000 new suppliers so far, rapidly scaling its network and validating Taulia's focus on supplier success. More than $1.4 billion has been offered to suppliers as early payment this year. Not only does the Taulia platform help buyers optimize working capital, it provides suppliers with unprecedented control over cash flow.

"The impact of these new customers and their suppliers on our network cannot be overstated," said Taulia CEO Cedric Bru. "One million buyer-supplier relationships on our platform allow us to provide both parties with tremendous flexibility, insight, and leverage to help them optimize working capital. The buyers in our network recognize that the success of their suppliers is directly linked to their own success. By unlocking better business relationships, we're able to free up billions of dollars to grow the economy worldwide."

This year, Taulia has also partnered with innovative companies and consultancies like Exostar and Ciber that work with companies across a number of industries to help them modernize their technology to advance their business. These partnerships will provide Taulia with access to new markets, where the company is tailoring its offerings to meet the needs of new customers of all sizes and industries.

"In partnering with Taulia, the leader in Supply Chain Finance, Exostar will now be able to offer our customers a solution that not only helps them to better manage their working capital but also enables all of their suppliers to efficiently obtain financing at a lower borrowing cost, and to optimize their cash flow, hence strengthening our customers' entire value chain," said Doug Russell, vice president, supply chain solutions at Exostar.

Also contributing to Taulia's accelerated momentum is collaboration with established partners, such as KPMG.

This momentum underscores the strong market position for Taulia, which is trusted by brands like Coca-Cola, PayPal, Hallmark, Pitney Bowes, and Salesforce. Through its financial supply chain technology, Taulia is helping these companies optimize working capital and drive growth, especially in times of market volatility.

September 2016

World’s second largest battery storage starts up

World’s second largest battery storage starts up

- September 2016

The world’s largest 2nd-use battery storage is starting up. The 13 MWh project is now nearing completion after a construction time of just under one year: a total of 1000 battery systems from second-generation smart fortwo electric drive cars are being grouped into a battery storage in Lünen, Westphalia. The first power units are already in the grid. The 13 MWh battery storage will put its full capacity at the disposal of the German energy market before the end of this year. The output will be available to the winner of the weekly auctions among the network operators for primary controlling power range, with fully automatic energy storage and feed-in. As energy is increasingly fed in from fluctuating, renewable energy sources such as wind farms or solar power stations, high-capacity battery storages are the key to stabilising power networks. According to figures from the German Ministry for the Economy and Energy (BMWi), 40 to 45 percent of power consumed in Germany is to be generated from renewable resources by 2025, increasing to 55 to 60 percent by 2035.

Efficient management of energy and material resources also applies to all components used in electromobility. The joint venture between partners Daimler AG, The Mobility House AG and GETEC has a future-oriented answer to the key question of reusing electric vehicle battery systems with this 2nd-use battery storage. Because the lifecycle of a plug-in or electric vehicle battery does not end after the vehicle’s operating life. If used in stationary power storage, the systems are fully operational even after the service life guaranteed by the manufacturer – with slight capacity losses only of secondary importance. Cost-effective use in stationary operation is possible for at least an estimated ten years longer. Reusing the modules from electric cars in a battery storage doubles their economic value and also demonstrably improves their eco-balance.

With the project in Lünen, the four partner companies cover the entire battery added value and 2nd-use chain: From the manufacture and configuration of the battery systems by Daimler subsidiary ACCUMOTIVE and the corresponding range of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles from Daimler AG to the installation and marketing of the stationary battery storage to the energy markets by The Mobility House and GETEC, and finally the recycling of these battery systems at the end of their lifecycle and the return of the valuable raw materials to the production cycle, which will be the remit of REMONDIS.

The project partners:

Daimler AG is one of the world’s most successful automobile companies. The Mercedes-Benz brand stands for high-quality vehicles that thrill and fascinate. The company is also the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles, and is active in various business sectors. With its subsidiary companies ACCUMOTIVE and Mercedes-Benz Energy, it is active in the automotive and stationary battery sectors – both for industrial mass energy storage and in the private customer business.

The Mobility House AG (TMH) is revolutionising the energy markets with vehicle batteries: TMH uses innovative technologies to allow the integration of electric vehicles into the power grid. TMH is installing and operating the battery storage in Lünen together with GETEC – and sells the energy to the energy markets. TMH was founded in 2009, and cooperates with all leading automobile manufacturers in over 10 countries from its locations in Munich, Zurich and San Francisco.

GETEC is an energy services provider whose companies offer the entire range of energy services in the liberalised energy market, and are active throughout Europe. GETEC ENERGIE AG develops individual, need-related solutions on all aspects of power and gas supply and the marketing of energy.

REMONDIS SE is one of the world’s largest service providers for recycling and water. One of the REMONDIS projects is to recycle lithium-ion batteries on an industrial scale in the future. The group of companies is active for the sustainable supply of raw materials and water in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

September 2016

iZettle acquires Intelligent POS

iZettle acquires Intelligent POS

- September 2016

iZettle, one of the fastest growing technology companies in Europe and EMEA , today announces it has acquired intelligentpos, the UK’s leading cloud based point of sale solution for shops, bars and restaurants.

The acquisition sees two disruptive companies joining forces resulting in a ‘one-stop-shop’ for commerce in store and on the go. Together iZettle and intelligentpos provide an integrated payment and point of sale solution that allows small businesses to take card payments and use hundreds of different features on the point of sale app to help them manage and grow their businesses.

Aimed at iZettle’s fastest growing users, intelligentpos offers advanced point of sales features including; table management, which gives restaurants a bird’s eye view of their tables and helps them provide a higher level of service; stock management, which helps merchants make sure they never run out of their customers’ favourite products; and advance reporting that helps users make informed decisions about their business.

Tom Allerton, Finance Director at The Mae Deli (Deliciously Ella’s cafe) says: “We use iZettle and intelligentpos at our deli in central London. We needed an integrated system that was able to scale with our business. Using intelligentpos and iZettle we are able to easily monitor tables, stock, staff and take payments within one app, it’s these added tools that help us sell smarter.”

Jacob de Geer, CEO and co-founder at iZettle says: “Five years ago, iZettle set out to empower small business owners with tools to help them accept card payments in an easy way - tools which were typically reserved for larger businesses.

“One year ago, iZettle broke new ground by offering small businesses hassle-free access to financing with iZettle Advance. Today, via the acquisition of the talented team and great product at intelligentpos, iZettle takes yet another step towards its mission of providing small businesses with a wide range of services and features that are critical to helping them grow and build their empires.”

Robin Knox, CEO and Paul Walton, CTO, co-founded intelligentpos in 2013. Robin comments: “We’ve been partners with iZettle for three years now. As businesses increasingly are looking for a unified point of sale and payments experience this is a natural next step for us and for the market. Moreover, iZettle have the same ethos and values as us and we’re thrilled to be joining the team and develop future products that help small businesses thrive.”

August 2016

Taulia named as one of the best enterprise software startups to work for in 2016

Taulia named as one of the best enterprise software startups to work for in 2016

- August 2016

Based on data from Crunchbase and Glassdoor, Forbes has named Taulia as one of the enterprise software startups most recommended to their friends interested in joining the sector. Cedric Bru, CEO of Taulia was also named as one of the highest rated CEOs.

ip.access also launches new Viper™ small cell platform, and announces partnership with CCS to simplify small cell deployment

ip.access also launches new Viper™ small cell platform, and announces partnership with CCS to simplify small cell deployment

- February 2016

ip.access, the world’s leading independent small cell product and solution provider, announced today it is extending its collaboration with Intel to encompass a new generation of small cell products. In additional news it announces the launch of a new end-to-end small cell platform, Viper, and a partnership with CCS to simplify small cell deployment.

“We see the continued growth of demand for mobile communications around the globe and know that next generation small cells are the only way to meet it. Selecting a technology partner with the flexibility and power to support our goals is vital. Intel was the natural choice for us as its solutions extend our LTE and multi-standard roadmaps in a way that no-one else can match,” says Malcolm Gordon, CEO of ip.access.

“We’ve partnered with ip.access over many years, most notably on the high volume AT&T Microcell. They have a unique vision of the way the HetNet wireless access market will develop. By deepening our collaboration today, we can help ip.access leverage Intel’s SoC platforms to meet the world’s need for wireless communication for licensed, unlicensed and Fifth Generation mobile networks,” said Naser Adas, general manager of the Heterogeneous Network Solutions Group at Intel.

ip.access’ W-CDMA residential small cell deployment remains the largest of its type in the world. No other small infrastructure vendor maintains the same breadth and depth of market penetration through GSM, W-CDMA and LTE around the globe. The inclusion of the Intel Transcede small cell SoC technology enhances ip.access’ product offerings, extending the reach of LTE beyond its heartland of licensed radio macro network deployments. By including self-organisation features, including FCC 47 part 96 compliance, ip.access products based on Intel technology will accelerate the transition towards LTE in mass market wireless access, including LTE-LAA, Citizens Broadband and Licensed Shared Access.

The Viper small cell platform encompasses lowest-cost products for home, small business and rural deployment as well as high performance products for enterprise and campus. All products carry ip.access proven Self-Organisation features, with SUMO™ enhanced multi-operator capability for vertical markets. Viper also integrates ip.access’ core-network gateways and EMS solutions into a complete end-to-end platform, suitable for traditional planned deployment, end-user unplanned deployments, and deployment ‘as-a-service’ by ip.access and its service partners.

In further news published recently ip.access also announced that it has partnered with CCS (Cambridge Communication Systems) to develop a new outdoor LTE small cell with integrated wireless backhaul, which will be unveiled at Mobile World Congress on stands 7C60 and 7B67.

With mobile data traffic continuing to soar, mobile operators are struggling to keep up with coverage and capacity demands, and small cells are accepted as the only viable solution to keep customers connected. However, site acquisition and planning approvals are two of the biggest barriers facing deployments of outdoor urban small cells today.

Although separate 4G small cell and wireless backhaul products can be installed in the same location, a “two-box” solution often exceeds the size, weight and single-attachment restrictions required to gain planning approval.

To overcome this issue, ip.access and CCS have developed an integrated outdoor unit incorporating a 4G nanoLTE™ small cell from ip.access, and Metnet self-organizing microwave backhaul from CCS. The new unit requires only a power supply to boost outdoor coverage and capacity in metro areas. It is designed to be more acceptable to local planning departments, and is smaller, cheaper, and easier to deploy than a two-box solution.

About Viper™

Viper™ is a Virtualised, In-Premises Enterprise Radio Access Network (RAN) platform which integrates ip.access’ award-winning 3G and 4G Access Points, virtualised Access Control Gateways, and Small Cells as a Service (ScaaS) offerings into an end-to-end solution to address enterprise customer needs. Security, automated provisioning and network configuration are an integral part of the Viper platform, with access points requiring only Ethernet and mains power connections. This platform allows in-building cellular infrastructure to be deployed as easily as Wi-Fi. The Viper platform is available now from ip.access and through selected service partners worldwide.

January 2016

Off Grid Electric announced as winner of the SME category

Off Grid Electric announced as winner of the SME category

- January 2016

At the Zayed Future Energy Prize awards ceremony held in Abu Dhabi on January 19, Off Grid Electric (OGE) was announced as the winner of the Small and Medium Enterprise category. The Zayed Future Energy Prize is the UAE’s international award that recognises and empowers pioneers in renewable energy and sustainability. The prize is part of the UAEs vision and commitment to finding solutions that will meet the challenges of climate change, energy security and the environment.

CEO and joint founder Xavier Helgesen of Off Grid Electric commented, “The major factor that keeps solar from being adopted more widely is that people are expected to pay for a lifetime of energy in one go. However if people in Tanzania and Rwanda can pay for their solar energy via their savings or income over a period of time, it becomes a very easy decision to go for solar.” Off Grid Electric’s massively scalable pay-as-you-go model is attracting 10,000 new households a month.

OGE will devote the $1.5 million prize fund towards growing its salesforce in Tanzania. Currently OGE employs around 1,000 people in Tanzania and it is aiming to recruit more graduates from local universities to work in sales and after sales roles, which are key to the success of the OGE model.”

Samer Salty, CEO of Zouk Capital, “We were delighted to hear of Off Grid Electric’s success in this prestigious and highly competitive award, where innovation is an important criterion. The company is at the forefront of using technology to rapidly scale this distributed energy business, and has the potential to light Africa. This is the second Zouk portfolio company to be honoured by the Zayed Future Energy Prize - Orb Energy, India’s leading provider of solar energy and hot water systems, was runner-up in the SME category in 2012.”

In other categories, former Prime Minister of Norway, Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland received a Lifetime Achievement Award. The Large Corporation category prize was awarded to Chinese electric vehicles manufacturer BYD. Indonesian non-profit organisation Kopernik was announced as the winner in the Non-Profit Organisation category. Five schools spanning five regions of the globe were the winners in the Global High Schools category.

About the Zayed Future Energy Prize

The Zayed Future Energy Prize was established by the UAE leadership in 2008 in honour of the environmental, social, and economic sustainability advocated by the nation’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (God bless his soul). More than 200 million people are experiencing the sustainable actions of the prize’s 48 winners to date. The 9th Zayed Future Energy Prize is open for entries. Enter online at www.ZayedFutureEnergyPrize.com

About Off Grid ElectricOff Grid Electric was founded by Erica Mackey, Joshua Pierce and Xavier Helgesen in late 2011 with a vision to light Africa in a decade. The company is based in Arusha, Tanzania. For more information, go to www.offgrid-electric.com

January 2016

Taulia raises $46m and names new CFO

Taulia raises $46m and names new CFO

- January 2016

Zouk Capital today announces it has led a $46 million in Series E financing in Taulia, Inc., the financial supply chain company. New strategic investors and institutional investors joined the round, which included all existing institutional investors. In additional news, Taulia named seasoned Silicon Valley financial executive John Varughese as CFO.

The funding follows another record year for Taulia, which continues to grow its top-line by more than 100 percent. The latest round brings Taulia’s total funding to over $130 million.

“The global demand for Taulia’s platform is increasing exponentially. After watching Taulia translate its previous funding into significant new business and revenue, the decision to lead this round was a natural one for Zouk,” said Samer Salty, CEO of Zouk Capital. “In addition, Taulia’s use of technology to streamline and strengthen the financial supply chain is a clear match with our investment philosophy of backing high growth companies that use technology to create efficiency.”

“This additional investment allows Taulia to further accelerate its rapid expansion,” said Cedric Bru, CEO of Taulia. “With the extensive global experience of our investors, we are in the best position to fuel the next stage of Taulia’s explosive growth.”

Taulia transforms the financial supply chain through modern technology to connect the largest companies in the world to their suppliers to do business more efficiently and effectively. Through a combination of sophisticated eInvoicing, supplier management and supplier financing, Taulia provides a win-win for both buyers, and all of their suppliers, strengthening relationships and adding significant savings to the bottom line. The Taulia platform has processed over $150 billion in transactions for 700,000 suppliers in more than 100 countries.

Taulia Announces New CFO

In additional news, Taulia announced that technology finance veteran John Varughese has joined the company as CFO. In this role, Varughese will oversee all finance, legal and HR operations and will report directly to CEO Cedric Bru.

“John’s proven strategic leadership and significant entrepreneurial expertise are the right combination to help us capture the tremendous market opportunities facing Taulia. He has helped some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley succeed, and we can’t wait to put his skills to work as an integral part of our leadership team,” said Bru.

Varughese joins Taulia from Perella Weinberg Partners, where he served as a partner in the advisory business. He built and ran the technology advisory practice and was responsible for relationships with top-tier clients including Google, PwC, Oracle and Marsh & McLennan. Prior to Perella, Varughese was a managing director at Lehman Brothers, where he led investment banking teams for many of the firm’s largest technology clients. He received his MBA from Columbia University and his BS from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

“The further I looked into Taulia’s platform, value proposition and growth potential, the more excited I became about this opportunity. Taulia truly is changing how businesses interact and manage their working capital, and I’m thrilled to join the company at such an exciting time in its growth,” said Varughese.

About Taulia

Taulia drives innovation in the Financial Supply Chain. By turning every invoice into a revenue opportunity, Taulia enables organizations to strengthen supplier relationships while adding millions to the bottom line. Some of the smartest brands in the world rely on Taulia, including Coca-Cola Bottling, Pfizer, Hallmark, John Deere, and many other Fortune 500 companies from various industries. Taulia is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with locations across the United States and offices in London, England; Dusseldorf, Germany; and Sofia, Bulgaria. For more information, visit www.taulia.com.

August 2015

iZettle raises €60m to offer new service, iZettle Advance, and to support continued growth

iZettle raises €60m to offer new service, iZettle Advance, and to support continued growth

- August 2015

iZettle today announced it has closed a €60 million Series D funding round led by Zouk Capital and Intel Capital, with participation from all of iZettle’s existing venture investors. In addition, the company announces that it is launching a new service for small businesses across Europe. iZettle Advance offers access to extra capital by providing an advance on future card sales. This new funding round will help finance this new service as well as supporting the continued growth of iZettle’s existing business.

For iZettle, the introduction of iZettle Advance marks a first foray into a business beyond card payments, and is a milestone in the company’s ambition to broaden its product and service offering. It is also in line with developments in alternative sources for financing now available for young businesses such as peer-to-peer lending to crowdsourcing. From today, iZettle Advance will gradually be made available throughout iZettle’s European markets. iZettle users eligible for iZettle Advance will be preapproved for financing, which avoids the need for any daunting paperwork. Users will see funds deposited the next day, and payback occurs automatically as a fraction of card sales. When sales vary, payback varies with it.

“Small companies have persistently been underserved by the traditional finance industry. We want small companies to thrive, and with iZettle Advance we’re applying the exact same logic as when we started iZettle five years ago when we completely overhauled the nature of card payments acceptance by small businesses,” says Jacob de Geer, iZettle’s CEO and co-founder.

“We continued to be excited about the huge potential of iZettle and the significant savings it makes for its customers. This new service represents the next step in iZettle’s goal to support the financing needs of small and micro businesses and we look forward to working with the team in the next stages of its development,” said Nathan Medlock, Partner at Zouk Capital.

About iZettle:

iZettle is the number one provider of mobile payment services and apps in Europe and Latin America. From card readers for smartphones and tablets to cash registers, sales tools and cash advances, all of iZettle’s solutions are simple to setup, super secure and designed to help small businesses grow. Founded in 2010 with headquarters in Stockholm, iZettle is now available in 11 countries globally. iZettle’s investors include 83North (formerly Greylock), American Express, Creandum, Dawn Capital, Index Ventures, Intel Capital, MasterCard, Northzone, Santander Fintech, SEB Private Equity and Zouk Capital.

About iZettle Advance:

· Get an advance on future card sales. Get money today and pay back through a fraction of your daily card sales. No security required.

· Adjust the offering to your own needs. Tailor the amount and payback pace to what suits your business, within limits customised to your track record.

· Quick approval and money deposited the next day. No forms or applications. You have been preapproved for what you’re being offered.

· Fixed and transparent pricing. The advance comes with a fixed fee, and there are no additional fees if the payback takes longer than expected.

· Focus on sales, don’t worry about payback. Repayments are completely automated so that you can fully focus on managing and growing your business.

iZettle Advance has already been a game changer for Jaime Morales , who runs and owns Chilimundo, a grocery store in Stockholm. “As a small business, your cashflow is often uneven and, until now, there have been no good financing alternatives to smoothen things out. iZettle Advance has allowed me to quickly ramp up the size of my product range, as well as to advertise on social media and radio,” says Jaime Morales . “This has had a positive impact on my sales, no doubt about it.”

July 2014

Investment in ip.access to fund the growth and accelerate development of ip.access’ next generation 2G/3G/4G multi-mode small cell products

Investment in ip.access to fund the growth and accelerate development of ip.access’ next generation 2G/3G/4G multi-mode small cell products

- July 2014

Zouk Capital today announces it has made an investment into ip.access, a leading provider of small cell solutions to blue chip customers worldwide. The investment will be used to fund the growth of the business and to accelerate development of ip.access’ next generation 2G/3G/4G multi-mode small cell products.

Malcolm Gordon, an experienced telecom industry executive, joins as CEO. Malcolm was most recently COO of IPWireless and CEO of General Dynamics Broadband.

Samer Salty and Andrew Whiting of Zouk Capital will join the board and support the management team in taking the company to the next level.

Samer Salty comments: “We are excited about the future for ip.access and believe that as a technology leader, the company is ideally placed to take advantage of the exponential growth in mobile data usage globally. We are delighted to welcome Malcolm on board as CEO.”

Malcolm Gordon, CEO of ip.access, said: “The market is at the inflection point driven by the significant increase in mobile data traffic. Small cells will play an increasingly important role in the mobile network infrastructure going forward and we believe that ip.access is poised to have significant influence in these developments. I am excited to be heading up ip.access and delivering market leading solutions to our customers.”

About ip.access

Headquartered in the United Kingdom, ip.access has been creating and deploying small cell solutions for more than ten years. The company has products and solutions live in over 100 customers’ networks around the world, with the capability to accelerate the introduction of additional small cell solutions into those networks irrespective of use case, technology or deployment model.

The company's success is built upon its ability to provide its Service Provider customers with a range of small cell coverage, capacity and presence solutions across all technologies (2G, 3G, and 4G), with a focus on a rapid return on investment and the ability to open up new markets and revenue streams.

The company has an end-to-end deployment philosophy that integrates the small cell access points with converged access gateways and comprehensive network management and performance tools; as well as a strong track record of working with trusted partners on integrated solutions.

About Malcolm Gordon

Malcolm, Chief Executive Officer, joined ip.access with 29 years’ experience in telecommunications. He has held senior management role at Alcatel Lucent (14 years of service concluding as Business Development Director for wireless in EMEA), IPWireless (COO and board member) and most recently General Dynamics Broadband (CEO). Since 1992, he has held key development roles for both GSM and WCDMA fixed wireless products. Malcolm has worked in both the UK and the United States. He earned an honours degree in computer science from Heriot-Watt University, Scotland.

June 2015

Zouk participates in €100m series D round for SIGFOX, the global leader in Internet of Things Connectivity

Zouk participates in €100m series D round for SIGFOX, the global leader in Internet of Things Connectivity

- June 2015

Zouk Capital, the London-based growth capital investor, today announced its participation in the €100m series D round for SIGFOX, as part of an investment extension allowing new strategic partners to join the share capital of the company in the months following the first close.

The SIGFOX network is the most cost-effective and energy-efficient way to provide two-way connectivity to billions of objects. Incorporated in 2009, SIGFOX has pioneered the Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) connectivity space and has become a reference player in Internet of Things (IoT).

“Zouk’s value add was immediately clear to us and the team’s access to new markets and expertise in technology and infrastructure will be of great strategic significance to SIGFOX. We are delighted to welcome Zouk on board,” said Ludovic Le Moan, CEO of SIGFOX.

“SIGFOX’s distinctive solution to Internet of Things connectivity is superior in its innovation and pioneering in its approach,” added Samer Salty, CEO of Zouk Capital. “SIGFOX’s strategy plays to our strengths and expertise in technology and infrastructure and we are excited to be able to support the company it its growth and expansion.”

About SIGFOX

SIGFOX is the premier provider of dedicated cellular connectivity for Internet of Things and Machine-to-Machine communications. The company’s network complements existing high-bandwidth systems by providing economical, energy-efficient two-way transmission of small quantities of data, thus lowering barriers to wide implementation of IoT and M2M solutions, and greatly extending the battery and service life of connected devices. SIGFOX's global network is deployed through the SIGFOX Network Operator™ partnership program, with more than 2 million square kilometers already covered. The company is headquartered in Labège, France, and has offices in Mountain View, Calif., and Madrid, Spain. For more information, see www.SIGFOX.com and follow us on Twitter @SIGFOX.

June 2015

Cyphort Raises $30 Million in Series C Funding

Cyphort Raises $30 Million in Series C Funding

- June 2015

Cyphort, a pioneer of Advanced Threat Defense (ATD) solutions, today announced it has secured $30 million in Series C funding. Sapphire Ventures led the round and was joined by existing investors: Trinity Ventures, Foundation Capital and Matrix Partners. London-based Zouk Capital also joined the round. The latest round of funding will be used to help with the security company’s rapid growth and expansion into new markets. The new funding brings Cyphort’s total investment to more than $53 million since inception.

Over the last 18 months, Cyphort has experienced exponential growth in revenue and customer demand. Cyphort has expanded its customer base of Global 1,000 enterprises and continues to grow into verticals including technology, media, financial, retail, travel and entertainment, to name a few.

“This Series C round is another great milestone for Cyphort as we continue our tremendous growth and traction in the security space,” said Manoj Leelanivas, CEO of Cyphort. “Network security threats are always changing and the IT landscape is constantly evolving. In this new world, where the enterprise perimeter has all but vanished, Cyphort’s distributed software platform provides comprehensive threat visibility, automated containment and unparalleled ease of deployment. This new round of funding solidifies Cyphort’s longevity and continued customer confidence in the solutions our company provides.”

“We are delighted to join this investment round in such an exciting company. Cyphort’s distributed, software-based approach enables energy savings of up to 70-80% compared to existing appliance-based solutions, as well as similar amounts of air conditioning. Furthermore, the software-based approach offers much better scalability and flexibility of deployment, resulting in significantly higher resource efficiency, allowing protection to be provided exactly where and to the extent it is actually required,” said Samer Salty, CEO of Zouk Capital. “Cyphort is an excellent example of a company using technology to create resource efficiency and therefore wholly fulfils Zouk’s investment thesis.“

Cyphort is a next-generation security company founded and led by experienced industry veterans who recognized a need for new solutions in the market to detect, analyze and add contextual intelligence to stop advanced threats. Recently, Cyphort was named “Rookie Security Company of the Year” by SC Magazine, named a SINET 16 Innovator and recognized by Network World as one of the “Must-have security tools” in the enterprise. In April 2015, the company announced it is the first in the industry to combine APT detection with lateral movement.

Cyphort is an innovative provider of Advanced Threat Protection solutions that deliver a complete defense against current and emerging Advanced Persistent Threats, targeted attacks and zero day vulnerabilities. The Cyphort Platform accurately detects and analyzes next generation malware, providing actionable, contextual intelligence that enables security teams to respond to attacks faster, more effectively, and in as surgical a manner as their attackers. Cyphort’s software-based, distributed architecture offers a cost effective, high performance approach to detecting and protecting an organization’s virtual, physical and cloud infrastructure against sophisticated attacks. Malware detection for Windows, OSX and Linux allows businesses to extract maximum value from IT assets without compromising the security of an organization. Founded by experts in advanced threats from government intelligence agencies and premier network security companies, Cyphort is a privately held company headquartered in Santa Clara, California. For more information, please visit www.cyphort.com and follow us @Cyphort.

February 2015

E.ON and NEC lead investment round of $8m in Space-Time Insight

E.ON and NEC lead investment round of $8m in Space-Time Insight

- February 2015

Space‐Time Insight, the leading provider of situational intelligence solutions, today announced that E.ON SE (EOAN:Xetra), one of the largest global energy suppliers, and NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701), a leading provider of innovative IT, network and communications products and solutions, have led an $8M investment in the company. The majority of Space-Time Insight’s current investors also participated in the strategic round of financing which the company will use to accelerate growth on multiple continents. NEC’s investment follows the formation in 2014 of a strategic partnership with Space-Time Insight in Japan and the Asia Pacific.

With a combined annual revenue of over $170B, E.ON and NEC bring Fortune 1000 muscle to Space-Time Insight’s initiatives in North America, Europe and Asia, where the challenges of big data and the opportunities of the Internet of Things are fuelling demand for the company’s real-time visual analytics software.

“The success of our grid and renewables initiatives rely on the ability to understand how our assets are performing, how we reduce risk, and what situations we need to respond to immediately,” said Susana Quintana-Plaza, Senior Vice President for Technology and Innovation at E.ON. “Our investment in Space-Time Insight reflects both our confidence in a market leader in visual analytics as well as a belief that the company’s software can greatly improve operational efficiency across our organization worldwide.”

Space-Time Insight provides Situational Intelligence for the Internet of Things, correlating, analyzing and visualizing data from any number of assets and sources to help business users make faster, more-informed decisions. In 2013, Space-Time Insight doubled sales and achieved similar growth in 2014. The company’s customers include eight of the twenty largest utilities in the US.

About Space-Time InsightSpace-Time Insight helps companies in asset-intensive industries make faster, more-informed decisions. Our real-time visual analytics applications correlate, analyze, and visualize large volumes of business, operational and external data, spatially, over time and across network nodes. Space-Time Insight’s award-winning software powers mission-critical systems for some of the largest companies around the world, helping them reliably, efficiently and economically deliver services and rapidly plan for and respond to a full range of operating events. Space-Time Insight partners with leaders in the industry including Accenture, Esri, IBM, NEC, OSIsoft, SAP, Siemens and Unicorn Systems. Space-Time Insight is privately held and based in San Mateo, CA. “Space-Time Insight” is a trademark of Space-Time Insight Inc.

December 2014

Huddle receives $51m in funding round led by Zouk Capital

Huddle receives $51m in funding round led by Zouk Capital

- December 2014

Huddle, the enterprise cloud collaboration service, today announced that it has secured a $51 million Series D round of funding. The capital will be used to expand Huddle’s leadership in secure external collaboration; transforming the way global teams work together by enabling enterprise and government organizations to simply and securely share, discuss and work on files in the cloud.

Funds will be invested to continue Huddle’s rapid expansion in the US and Europe. The company will also double the size of its product team in order to continue the constant development and innovation of the product.

The financing was led by Zouk Capital, with participation from the Hermes GPE Environmental Innovation Fund, managed by Hermes GPE, and all existing investors, including Matrix Partners, Jafco Ventures, DAG Ventures, and Eden Ventures. Nathan Medlock, Partner at Zouk Capital, led the deal and will join the Huddle board.

This year, Huddle has seen significant growth in its business, with sales to enterprise customers tripling in the first three quarters of 2014 over the same period last year. The company also secured seven of its ten biggest contracts to date in the same time frame. With offices in San Francisco, London, New York and Washington D.C., Huddle continues to strengthen its leadership position in the rapidly growing market for enterprise content collaboration in the cloud. Customers include Grant Thornton, Baker Tilly International, National Grid, P&G, Keolis, Williams Lea, Driscoll’s and Panasonic Europe.

Following the launch of its US government offering in 2013, Huddle has also added four US federal agencies to its portfolio, strengthening its already impressive government credentials. The company’s government customers globally include 80 percent of central UK government departments, NASA, the Office of the Secretary of Defence, Government of Greenland, the NHS, and numerous local government organizations.

“We've seen the content collaboration market come of age over the last year, with enterprises and governments now replacing legacy software at scale and embracing this new way of working,” explained Alastair Mitchell, CEO, Huddle. “There has also been an increasing trend away from simple cloud storage. It has become a low-value commodity and simply replicates the age-old problem of content getting lost and siloed on shared drives with a new one – content now just gets forgotten about in the cloud. Instead, business managers have realized that secure collaboration workspaces that enable teams within and across the firewall to work together on content is where the real value now lies. Effective collaboration results in greater productivity, supports decision-making, ensures teams meet milestones and ultimately drives business growth. CIOs are also recognizing the strategic business value of content collaboration and, as a result, Huddle is becoming a vital and widely deployed part of their new cloud technology stack. We’re growing incredibly fast and we’re excited that we've been able to bring on board new investors to help us on the next stage of our journey.”

“Huddle is disrupting the enterprise technology space and transforming the way that teams and companies work together,” said Samer Salty, CEO of Zouk Capital. “On its mission to improve workforce productivity, Huddle has secured a strong client-base of enterprise and government organizations. The company’s impressive growth and customer credentials prove that today’s workforce doesn't need just cloud storage, but intelligent collaboration tools that help teams get their jobs done. Huddle is a great example of a company that meets Zouk’s resource efficiency investment thesis: recognizing that not only should we be doing more with less, but that resources, processes and systems are more connected than ever. We’re looking forward to supporting such an innovative company through the next phase of its growth.”

“The value of cloud content collaboration solutions is increasingly being realized by organizations, particularly because they are easy to provision and enable streamlined access for mobile users,” said Vanessa Thompson, Research Director, Enterprise Social Networks and Collaborative Technologies at IDC. “Forming a workspace environment for users that brings together content collaboration capabilities, as well as context from other systems, means that users only need to be in one place to get work done. This becomes increasingly critical as users are being asked to do more with less time.”

“Content has always been the critical part of work and Huddle is making it easier for teams to securely access and work on content with their entire business community,” said Jim Lundy, CEO and Lead Analyst, Aragon Research. “The world of business apps is changing and predictive content is one of the ways that Huddle is making it easier and faster to find and share content.”

About Huddle

Huddle is a secure cloud collaboration service that enables enterprise and government organizations worldwide to securely store, access, share, sync and work on files with everyone they need to - regardless of whether they are inside or outside of an organization's firewall. Co-headquartered in London and San Francisco and with offices in New York City and Washington D.C., Huddle's customers include 80 percent of Fortune 500 and 80 percent of UK government departments, as well as companies such as Kia Motors, Williams Lea, Driscoll’s, Unilever and P&G. The company is privately held and backed by leading venture capital firms in the US and Europe. More information can be found at www.huddle.com.

December 2014

Off Grid Electric receives $16 million in growth funding round led by Zouk Capital

Off Grid Electric receives $16 million in growth funding round led by Zouk Capital

- December 2014

Off Grid Electric, the world’s leading off-grid energy provider, announced the closing of a $16 million funding round today led by Zouk Capital and SolarCity. The announcement comes on the heels of a $7 million funding announcement earlier this year, making Off Grid Electric one of the best capitalized companies in a sector that is quickly heating up. Along with Zouk Capital and SolarCity, Vulcan Capital, the private investment firm of Microsoft co-Founder Paul Allen, is making its second investment in the company.

The announcement comes as more good news for a company whose customer base has more than tripled since it was named winner of the Ashden Awards last March. In Tanzania, Off Grid Electric has delivered the highest solar adoption rates in the world, and has quickly become Africa’s leading provider of solar energy as a service. For less than $0.20 per day, customers are able to enjoy 50 times more light than from traditional sources.

Off Grid Electric CEO, Xavier Helgesen, said, “We have the potential to change 1 billion lives by making solar accessible and affordable to everyone.”

Zouk Capital is a London-based private equity fund manager that makes investments in companies which have a genuine environmental impact. “For us, this is a bet on a global solution.” says Samer Salty, Zouk Capital's CEO. “Off Grid Electric has the first truly scalable solution for their customers. We see the company reaching a million customers quite soon. Furthermore, Off Grid Electric is leapfrogging the Western world and proving that distributed energy is highly scalable, financially viable, and has an immediate positive impact on hundreds of millions of people.”

SolarCity has made its second major investment in Off Grid Electric since participating in the company’s funding round late last year. “Off Grid is expert at offering Africans what they want: clean, affordable electricity that can allow them to grow businesses, improve educational opportunity, and enrich their quality of life,” said SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive. “Many people in Africa currently depend on inadequate kerosene lamps for power, and Off Grid knows how to give that market more light at less cost.”

“Off Grid Electric has the team, the vision and the technology to deliver distributed power to thousands, and eventually, millions of homes and businesses in parts of the world where grid electricity is non-existent,” says Vulcan Capital Managing Director, Steve Hall. “The Off Grid Electric solution represents a massive market opportunity that will serve as a foundational building block to drive economic development in these regions.”

Off Grid Electric reports big plans for 2015. “We have made number of engineering and operational breakthroughs that will dramatically increase our product offering and the quality of service,” Helgesen says, “we can barely keep up with demand right now.”

About Off Grid ElectricOff Grid Electric was founded by Erica Mackey, Joshua Pierce and Xavier Helgesen in late 2011 with a vision to light Africa in a decade. The company is based in Arusha, Tanzania. For more information, go to www.offgrid-electric.com

May 2014

Zouk Capital leads €40m Series C funding round in iZettle

Zouk Capital leads €40m Series C funding round in iZettle

- May 2014

iZettle, Europe’s No.1 provider of mobile payment services and apps, has closed a €40 million Series C funding. London-based growth investor Zouk Capital led the round, with participation from Dawn Capital and Intel Capital, and Series A and B investors Creandum, Greylock Partners, Index Ventures, Northzone and SEB Private Equity.

Investors in previous rounds included, American Express, MasterCard and Banco Santander. Nathan Medlock, a principal in Zouk’s Growth Capital Team will join the iZettle board.

iZettle will use the funding to continue growing in existing markets as well as identifying new potential territories for expansion.

"Using a card for payment is second nature to all of us, so it remains extraordinary that millions of small companies and traders are still locked out of this system by their size,” said Medlock. “iZettle gives this huge market the ability to accept card payments, helping smaller enterprises save time, paper and energy while professionalising their operations.”

iZettle started in 2011, offering an easy way to take card payments using mini credit card readers that transform smartphones and tablets into cash registers. Today, small businesses come to iZettle for tools to grow their business: from complete point of sale solutions, to free sales overview apps like reports and graphs to spot sales opportunities and identify loyal customers.

“Building on its early successes in Europe, we’re excited about iZettle’s growth plans, and believe this round will give them the fire power required to execute on the next phase of expansion,” Medlock added, “At the core of Zouk’s investment thesis is the emergence of what we call resource intelligence: recognising that not only should we be doing more with less, but that resources, process and systems are more connected than ever. iZettle is a great example of this concept in action.”

Said Jacob de Geer, iZettle co-founder and CEO: “Small businesses are the lifeblood of the global economy. Our mission from the start has been to democratize and simplify payments around the world to help small businesses grow their business.”

iZettle takes just minutes to set up, and works with all major payment cards. With iZettle there’s no subscription, set up fee, monthly fee or minimum. Instead, iZettle merchants pay a small percentage of each transaction. iZettle then electronically deposits payments in the seller’s bank account.

In addition to Mexico and Brazil, the iZettle app, Chip & PIN and Chip & Signature readers, and free business management software are now available in the U.K., Spain, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland.

In a recent Tech5 competition by technology focused media company The Next Web, iZettle was ranked one of the three fastest growing companies in Europe.

About iZettleWe believe running a business should be easier. At iZettle we come to work every day to build game-changing payment services and apps – from card readers for smartphones and tablets, to registers and tools for increasing sales. They are simple to set up and use, always secure, and help you build your business. But that’s not all; they actually make running a small business way more fun. Our headquarters may be in Stockholm, but we’re now used by hundreds of thousands of businesses in nine countries around the world. Join us at izettle.com.

December 2013

Anesco tops 2013 Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100

Anesco tops 2013 Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100

- December 2013

Anesco named UK’s fastest growing private company.

National energy efficiency solutions company, Anesco, has been named the UK’s fastest growing private company, after taking the top spot in the prestigious Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100.

The high profile league table highlights the 100 private companies who have had the fastest-growing sales over their latest three years.

The accolade follows an outstanding year for Anesco, which has seen the company increase its revenue by 257%, grow its team by over a quarter and become one of the youngest companies to achieve a RoSPA Gold Award for occupational health and safety.

After growing revenue from £21million to £55.1million in the last financial year, the company expects to exceed its target of £100million by financial year end March 2014.

Adrian Pike, CEO of Anesco, said: “What an amazing Christmas present! To be ranked number one is just unbelievable."

“2013 has been an absolutely phenomenal year for Anesco. We’ve achieved so much and that’s down to the team we’ve pulled together and all their hard work. People are at the heart of what we do and that’s why we’re so proud of our Investors in People gold standard. We wouldn’t be where we are today without their dedication.”

Sustained growth has seen Anesco grow to a workforce of 98 permanent employees, with up to 350 contractors employed at any one time and more than 30 supply chain partners and logistics staff.

Through its work with businesses, local authorities and homeowners, Anesco has helped to take over 40,000 people out of fuel poverty. The renewable technologies it has deployed are now generating enough power for more than 45,000 homes, saving over 72,000 tonnes of carbon per year.

Anesco’s industry-leading renewable assets maintenance service, AnescoMeter, is monitoring over 11,000 UK solar installations, which to date have achieved a total carbon saving of over 37,000.

“There’s a mantra we use at Anesco, ‘have fun, make a difference and make money’, and that’s exactly what we’ve done. As a company, we operate with strong values that run through everything we do and we look to build lasting relationships with both customers and suppliers alike,” added Adrian.

“2014 is already shaping up to be a fantastic year, as we expand into new markets and begin taking on our first projects outside of the UK. As an industry, energy efficiency is a great one to be in and we continue to go from strength to strength.”

It’s been a year of achievement for Anesco, which earlier this year was recognised as the second fastest growing cleantech company in Europe as part of the Cleantech Connect Awards, where the company also received a special judges’ award.

Anesco has also been named one of the top 100 cleantech companies in the world as part of the The Global Cleantech 100 and the senior team were declared venture capital backed management team of the year by the BVCA.

In The Growing Business Awards 2013, which seek to find the country’s most exceptional entrepreneurs and to highlight the most pioneering UK firms who are bringing new thinking to their markets, Anesco was awarded Young Company of the Year, with CEO Adrian Pike named Entrepreneur of the Year.

September 2013

MERALCO of the Philippines Invests in Smart Energy Infrastructure to Empower Consumers and Improve Efficiency and Reliability

MERALCO of the Philippines Invests in Smart Energy Infrastructure to Empower Consumers and Improve Efficiency and Reliability

- September 2013

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco), the largest distribution utility in the Philippines with more than 5 million customers, currently is embarking on its advanced smart grid roadmap with prepay smart metering as its first service. With this, households across Meralco’s service territory will be able to better manage their energy consumption and are poised to reap the benefits of a modernized electric system, thanks in part to a smart energy infrastructure by GE’s Digital Energy business (NYSE: GE) and Trilliant. This first phase of Meralco’s long-term smart grid vision is integrating “smart intelligence” into the electric distribution network to help consumers better manage their electricity consumption. With this advanced technology, consumers will be empowered with the information that will help them track and manage their energy usage and bills more efficiently and effectively.

“We are looking at the benefits of smart prepaid metering to deliver better service to our customers,” said Alfredo Panlilio, head of customer retail services and corporate communications, Meralco. “This is the first phase of our long-term smart grid roadmap, which will eventually not only focus on prepaid metering, but also the modernization of our electric infrastructure, which will eventually deliver better customer experience, improved energy efficiency and enhanced reliability. GE is one of our main partners to enable this advanced metering infrastructure.”

As part of an overall energy infrastructure modernization strategy, GE will provide electric meters and system integration services. The project showcases the flexibility of the Trilliant Smart Grid Communications Platform, which enables advanced intelligence in the prepaid metering system today and will serve as a foundational platform for future advanced smart grid capabilities that improve reliability and enhance efficiency.

“Meralco is becoming a Southeast Asian leader in adopting new technologies to improve energy service,” said Matt McKenzie, general manager, Asia Pacific, GE Digital Energy. “This advanced smart grid platform gives Meralco the capabilities to transform consumers’ relationship with electricity. With this system, consumers will be able to more easily and effectively manage their use and budget. The enhanced network control and efficiency tools enabled by smart meters open doors to the very latest energy innovations that can increase productivity and efficiency, while reducing and minimizing outages.”

“Southeast Asian utilities are facing some of the most pressing challenges in the world,” said Bryan Spear, Asia Pacific managing director, Trilliant. “And Meralco is at the forefront in proactively delivering solutions to address those challenges. It is an honor to have the opportunity to work with Meralco to leverage our experience from around the world to bring tangible value to the people of the Philippines.”

About Meralco

Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is the Philippines’ largest distribution utility. It is part of the Metro Pacific Group of Companies headed by one of Asia’s leading businessmen, Manuel V. Pangilinan. The Meralco franchise of 9,337 km2 is home to approximately 25 percent of the Philippine’s population, generates about 50 percent of Philippine gross domestic product and produces 60 percent of Philippine manufacturing output.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ge.com.

GE’s Digital Energy business is a global leader in protection and control, communications, power sensing and power quality solutions. Its products and services increase the reliability of electrical power networks and critical equipment for utility, industrial and large commercial customers. From protecting and optimizing assets such as generators, transmission lines and motors, to ensuring secure wireless data transmission and providing uninterruptible power, GE’s Digital Energy business delivers industry-leading technologies to solve the unique challenges of each customer. For more information, visit http://www.gedigitalenergy.com.

Space‐Time Insight, the leading provider of next‐generation situational intelligence solutions, today announced that it has raised $20 million in Series C financing to drive the company’s continued expansion in the US and international markets. London-based private equity fund, Zouk Capital, joins current investors Opus Capital Ventures, EnerTech Capital, and Novus Energy Partners in this round of financing.

“To make critical decisions, companies worldwide need to analyze huge volumes of data residing in numerous silos across their IT and operational infrastructures in real-time,” said Space-Time Insight CEO, Rob Schilling. “The Series C financing enables Space-Time Insight to extend the reach of situational intelligence, fulfilling the needs of those businesses and making a significant contribution to their bottom line. We are proud to have the support of our existing investors as well as Zouk Capital, which has a track record of growing businesses in new geographies across European and Asian markets.”

Space-Time Insight’s award-winning software enables its impressive list of major customers, such as Hydro One, Southern California Edison, the California ISO, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), and a global delivery services company, to reduce risk, improve service reliability and efficiency, and significantly reduce costs through highly sophisticated visualization and analysis of massive volumes of diverse real-time and historical data. The funds will be used to further expand the company’s presence in the US, Europe and Asia, while increasing its product offerings for capital asset-intensive industries such as Utilities, Oil & Gas and Transportation.

According to GTM Research, the global smart grid market is expected to surpass $400B by 2020 with an average compound annual growth rate of over 8%. With its proven ability to correlate, analyze and visualize huge data volumes in real-time across both traditional IT and operational (OT) systems, Space-Time Insight is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this opportunity and growth.

“Over the last few years the urgent need for software that enables businesses to understand and interpret vast amounts of data across many different systems has become critical from both a cost and resource efficiency basis,” said Samer Salty, CEO at Zouk Capital. “Zouk has identified Space-Time Insight as the clear leader in its category and is thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to its success. In particular, we look forward to working closely with the Space-Time Insight team in its further expansion into Europe and Asia.”

Samer Salty will join Space-Time Insight’s Board of Directors.

About Space-Time Insight

Space-Time Insight transforms vast quantities of disparate information into intuitive visual displays that businesses can use to make informed real-time decisions. From traditional transmission, communications and transportation networks to Smart Grids and Cities, our next-generation situational intelligence solution is making critical infrastructure smarter, safer and more reliable. With Space-Time Insight, enterprises can visualize and analyze their resources across location and time, rapidly respond to disruptions in service, and lower risk while increasing customer satisfaction and profitability. Major organizations around the world rely on our high performance software to gain actionable insights into their businesses and make real-time operational decisions. Space-Time Insight partners with leaders in the industry including Accenture, EMC, Esri, IBM, OSIsoft, and SAP. Space-Time Insight is privately held and based in San Mateo, CA. For more information, visit http://www.spacetimeinsight.com.

September 2013

SEP and Hermes acquire Zouk stake in Anesco

SEP and Hermes acquire Zouk stake in Anesco

- September 2013

Scottish Equity Partners (SEP) and Zouk Capital (Zouk) are pleased to announce the acquisition by SEP and Hermes of Zouk’s shareholding in Anesco, the UK’s leading energy efficiency solutions company. Zouk Capital, the private equity and infrastructure fund manager specialising in the clean economy, was a founding shareholder in Anesco in 2010 and has made a significant contribution to the growth of the company. The transaction was led by SEP.

The deal is further endorsement for Anesco, recently announced as national winner of the BVCA Management Team of the Year Award and comes on the back of impressive results for the last financial year, with the Reading-based company beating ambitious targets to achieve turnover of £55.1 million and a profit of £3.4 million before tax.

With the ongoing support of SEP and Hermes, Anesco now expects to quickly reach its target of over £100 million revenue as demand for its services continues to grow. Anesco is experiencing significant growth for its broad range of products and services which address opportunities in the Green Deal, ECO, ESCO and RHI markets.

Anesco already forms part of the portfolio of the Environmental Energies Fund (EEF), managed by SEP, and this share purchase will increase SEP’s stake in the company. David Sneddon of SEP will join the Anesco board as a non-executive director.

Adrian Pike, CEO of Anesco, comments: “We have enjoyed our relationship with Zouk for the past two and a half years. We are delighted to have the support of SEP and Hermes to further our growth and diversification in the energy efficiency market.”

David Sneddon, Partner at SEP comments: “Anesco is an award winning and visionary technology led company with its sights set on significant growth. We are delighted to increase SEP’s support for the Anesco team as they drive the company to achieve its long term goals.”

Samer Salty, CEO of Zouk comments: “As a founding shareholder, we are extremely pleased to have been involved with Anesco since its formation. We backed an exceptional management team which has outperformed our expectations of what could be achieved in the emerging UK energy efficiency market. As the first exit for Zouk’s second Growth Capital fund, Anesco sets a benchmark for the returns that we target across the portfolio.”

va-Q-tec AG, the global leader in the development and manufacturing of VIPs is pleased to announce its expansion into the North American market with the opening of a US office in East Rutherford, NJ. This presence will allow the company to support its growing US and Canadian healthcare and pharmaceutical customer base and serve the increased demand for temperature controlled packaging in the region. Andrew Heholt will lead va-Q-tec’s commercial activities in North America as VP of Sales.

va-Q-tec will introduce their high performance packaging portfolio for purchase or as part of their global “Load and Go” rental service to ship biopharmaceutical products.

A single pack-out configuration across the product line ensures that va-Q-tec customers benefit from one container capable of multiple applications, significantly reducing packaging complexities below industry standards, and cutting more than 25% out of total landed logistics costs while always being temperature deviation free.

About va-Q-tec AG

va-Q-tec was founded in 2001 in Würzburg, Germany. The founders Dr. Kuhn and Dr. Caps focused on nanotechnology research which led them to the development of VIPs for a wide range of clean technology applications. va-Q-tec is a market leading supplier of VIPs to various industries, such as pharmaceutical packaging, appliances, construction, automotive, aerospace and defense. The World Economic Forum and Bloomberg have awarded va-Q-tec for its innovative products and cleantech solutions. va-Q-tec is an ISO 9001:2000 privately held organization with offices in Germany, United Kingdom, Korea, and the United States of America. (www.va-Q-tec.com)

June 2013

TRITON WATER AG arms itself for the area of Water Management in the oil & gas and energy sector

TRITON WATER AG arms itself for the area of Water Management in the oil & gas and energy sector

- June 2013

TRITON WATER AG (Norderstedt/ Hamburg) arms itself for the area of Water Management in the oil & gas and energy sector

Norderstedt/ Hamburg, 21.06.2013: With retroactive effect to 1 January 2013, TRITON WATER AG has acquired all of the shares in Future Technologies L.L.C. (Dubai).

Both are innovative medium-sized companies whose strategic goals are ideally complementary. For TRITON WATER AG, this represents another step in its goal to become the international specialist in water management for industrial customers. With roots in Germany going back to 1851, the company is thereby also gaining access to the strategically important market in the Middle East.

Careful use of water is of great importance for two reasons in the individual industrial sectors: water is increasingly a key economic factor demanding environmentally-compatible handling which in turn conserves resources. TRITON WATER offers integrated solutions for industrial water management in order to comply with the requirements of today and the future. Together, TRITON WATER and Future Technologies L.L.C. hope to meet these requirements in the form of individual overall solutions for water management in facilities, whereby Future Technologies L.L.C. can rely on a wealth of experience concerning water management in the oil & energy sector with the result that it avails of considerable growth potential for the future.

Along with the former CEO Helge Schaare, the former owner of Future Technologies L.L.C., Mr. Kai Uwe Buerger, will be the second chairman of Triton Water AG with responsibility for the areas of Sales and Project Management in future.

About Triton

Triton Water AG, founded 1851 in Hamburg, offers innovative and customized solutions for industrial water and waste water especially for the following industries: food&beverage, oil&gas, energy and process industry.In addition to equipment sales, Triton also provides solutions-as-a-service including the operation and maintenance with remote monitoring. Triton´s in-house laboratory and production facility of waterchemicals complete the portfolio.

The technology know-how and detailed understanding of industrial water and waste management processes allows Triton to support its clients across their entire water cycle on a global level.

September 2012

va-Q-tec: World Economic Forum 2013 Technology Pioneer

va-Q-tec: World Economic Forum 2013 Technology Pioneer

- September 2012

va-Q-tec AG today announced its selection by the World Economic Forum as a 2013 Technology Pioneer, citing the company’s innovations vacuum insulation technology. The World Economic Forum selected its 2013 Technology Pioneers in the areas of energy and environment, information technology, telecommunications and new media, and life sciences and health, based on demonstrative vision and leadership in their fields, innovative ideas and approaches, and their impact on society and business.

"va-Q-tec is delighted and honored to be selected as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum," said va-Q-tec CEO Joachim Kuhn. "By redefining the scope of advanced thermal insulation using our vacuum insulation panels, va-Q-tec is creating energy efficient and mission-critical solutions in multiple industries. We are particularly proud of our commercial progress in high-end appliances and temperature controlled logistics. This award is a tribute to the advances we have made in product innovation over recent years."

va-Q-tec designs and produces vacuum insulation panels used in refrigeration, packaging, cold-chain logistics, construction and automotive applications. The company’s patent-protected products perform up to ten times better on energy efficiency than conventional insulation materials, saving up to 80% in energy consumption. As va-Q-tec’s panels are particularly light-weight, thin and flexible they are applicable in a wide variety of industries. The company also provides heat & cool storage elements containing phase change materials which enhance insulation performance. va-Q-tec has manufacturing sites in Germany as well as service and operations sites in the UK and South Korea.

September 2012

Lighting Science Group Concludes Final Tranche of $168 Million Equity Raise

Lighting Science Group Concludes Final Tranche of $168 Million Equity Raise

- September 2012

Lighting Science Group Corporation has closed an equity investment of $49m as the final part of its $168m equity funding round first announced by the Company on 29 May 2012. The funding comes from Zouk Capital LLP and a sovereign wealth fund based in the Middle East.

Zouk, the manager of Europe's largest growth capital fund dedicated to the cleantech sector, and the sovereign wealth fund join Riverwood Capital, a globally-focused private equity firm that invests in high-growth businesses in the technology and services industries, and Pegasus Capital Advisors, LP, the Company's majority shareholder, previous participants in the equity financing.

With the completion of this final tranche, aggregate gross proceeds to the Company from the equity financing are $168 million. The funding will be used to finance the Company's growth and enhance its leadership position in the LED lighting market, with a strong focus on continued development of the Company's technology and product pipeline. The financing will allow LSG to expand its relationship with key supply chain partners and increase its pace of new product introductions. In addition, LSG intends to invest in its sales and marketing efforts to promote and support its products in an ever increasing number of channels, assisted by the global commercial networks LSG's new investors expect to bring.

As part of this transaction Samer Salty, Zouk's founder and CEO, will be joining the Company's board of directors. Mr. Salty commented: "Lighting Science Group is at the forefront of the LED lighting market, developing and manufacturing high-efficiency products that are displacing existing technologies. We look forward to working with the company and the other shareholders on further strengthening the business."

About Lighting Science Group Corporation

Lighting Science Group Corporation (LSCG.OB) designs, develops, manufactures and markets LED lighting solutions that are environmentally friendlier and more energy efficient than traditional lighting products. Lighting Science Group offers retrofit LED lamps in form factors that match those of traditional lamps or bulbs and LED luminaires designed for a range of applications including public and private infrastructure for both indoor and outdoor use. Lighting Science Group's Advanced Projects Group business unit designs, develops and manufactures custom LED lighting solutions for architectural and artistic projects. Lighting Science Group is headquartered in Satellite Beach, Florida; the Company's European operations are based in Middelburg, The Netherlands; and the Company has a sales office in Sydney, Australia. Lighting Science Group employs approximately 550 workers building lighting products from domestic and imported parts.

The solar plant will provide enough ‘green’ electricity during daylight hours to power over 70% of AmeyCespa’s Mechanical Biological Treatment plant in Waterbeach, providing a sustainable, local energy solution.

Located at the hamlet of Chittering, this 20,000 panel solar park is built in a discreet location and is not visible from the main road. The plant will generate up to 4,552MWh annually, an optimum level achieved with an experienced engineering team and use of only the highest quality materials. This is sufficient energy to power the equivalent of over 1,200 homes continuously without any noise or pollution.

Frans van den Heuvel, CEO of Solarcentury said:“We are all incredibly excited about this project. Rather than the plant being connected to export into the grid, there has been significant engineering work to provide 3km of cabling from the plant running directly to local waste management company AmeyCespa.”

He added: “Unlike most utility scale ground mounted solar plants in the country, this solar plant prioritises the use of electricity by AmeyCespa’s facilities first, with minimal excess energy being fed back into the national grid. We expect to see many more commercial projects of this nature in the future as organisations become increasingly aware of fixed, low cost solar power.”

Lightsource supplies this ‘green’ energy to the waste management company through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 25 years. This method of energy supply significantly benefits high electricity users like AmeyCespa, not only by cutting electricity costs, but also providing better control and predictability on budget forecasting.

Nick Boyle, CEO of Lightsource Renewable Energy said: “It goes without saying that energy prices are set to continue to rise in the coming years. According to current UK Power Index estimates from DECC, we are set to experience a 5-8% increase per annum from conventional suppliers. Aside from the expense, if you are in heavy industry or the public sector, the unpredictability of fossil fuel electricity costs can make budgeting and planning for the future virtually impossible. However, PPAs through Lightsource have now become a proven way to eliminate much of this uncertainty and cut energy costs.”

Nick Boyle continued: “Our PPAs are proving attractive because they provide much needed pricing certainty coupled with a significant reduction in electricity bills. As we own our plants, we specify only premium equipment and maintain it to the highest possible standards. This ensures optimum output and supply to our clients. We create a high quality, appropriate and hassle free solar solution for any business or property owner. Our newly completed plant here at Chittering is a prime example of how Lightsource can develop solar solutions that work for the local community.”

Sarah Clover, Account Director for AmeyCespa East, said:“As a company which provides itself not only on innovation, but working closely with the communities in which we are based, AmeyCespa is delighted to be involved in this partnership to make use of a local source of renewable energy. Minimising our impact on the environment is at the heart of everything we do, and using solar energy to power one of our key facilities demonstrates our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint.”

March 2012

va-Q-tec elected New Energy Pioneer by Bloomberg

va-Q-tec elected New Energy Pioneer by Bloomberg

- March 2012

va-Q-tec has been recognised as a New Energy Pioneer at the Bloomberg New Energy Finance Summit 2012 in New York City. The award is given to companies which have achieved significant innovations in the field of clean energy and energy efficiency over the course of the year.

va-Q-tec specialises in vacuum insulation panels, high-performance products that insulate ten times better than conventional materials. The company was elected a New Energy Pioneer for its energy efficient “va-Q-plus” product, noted for its highly innovative use of materials.

Christopher Hoffmann, a Principal at va-Q-tec's cleantech investor Zouk Capital, and Thorsten Scheck, both members of the company's Supervisory Board, accepted the award on behalf of va-Q-tec. In his speech, Hoffmann highlighted the relevance of thermal energy savings and emphasized that industrial nations typically use 60 % of their primary energy for thermal purposes. He also revealed the global potential of the innovative "va-Q-plus" product: "va-Q-tec is a true pioneer in energy efficiency. Due to the high energy savings potential of va-Q-plus our production facilities are real energy savings plants. The annual output of one of va-Q-tec‘s plants saves as much power annually as would be produced by a 300MW power plant. And it’s much cheaper."

va-Q-tec is the first German company to have received this prestigious award. The company was founded in 2001 in Würzburg, Bavaria, and is specialized in the development and production of vacuum insulation panels (VIPs). va-Q-tec is the technology leader in this field. It sells VIPs to many corporations globally and also integrates its VIPs into high-performance packaging solutions for pharmaceutical customers. Demand for va-Q-tec’s products has been growing strongly, driven by the universal need for increased energy efficiency in everyday products and services. With over 50 patents, vast product application opportunities and a simple value proposition to customers, va-Q-tec has the potential to expand at a massive scale. In recent years, the company has grown an average of 70-100 % p.a., with a solid base of international customers across various industries.

va-Q-tec employs over 160 people and has two production sites in Germany (in Bavaria and Thuringia) as well as offices in the UK, South Korea and the US. Since 2011 va-Q-tec offers a global rental service for its temperature-controlled containers, targeting pharmaceutical and logistics companies globally. The company’s growth is supported by blue-chip investors, including BayBG, KfW, Ringpark and Zouk Capital, a leading cleantech investor based in London.

"Our versatile and energy-saving products are revolutionizing entire markets. “va-Q-tec inside” will become synonymous for highly energy efficient products containing va-Q-tec’s vacuum insulation panels. A large number of consumer products such as fridges, freezers, containers, airplanes, cars, trailers and buildings will benefit from va-Q-tec’s high performance insulation material,” said va-Q-tec’s CEO Dr Joachim Kuhn. “VIPs will provide a significant contribution to the efficient use of energy.”

The Bloomberg New Energy Finance Pioneers program identifies companies from around the world that are changing the energy landscape forever. An independent panel of industry experts from banking, academia, corporations, utilities and technology providers chose the selected winners by assessing them against three criteria: potential scale, innovation and momentum.

January 2012

Zouk invests in waste-to-energy leader FFK

Zouk invests in waste-to-energy leader FFK

- January 2012

Zouk’s €230 million fund, Cleantech Europe II, has completed an investment in a leading German recycler and producer of secondary raw materials, FFK Environment GmbH (“FFK”). Headquartered in Peitz, Germany, FFK was founded 20 years ago by its current CEO Frank Kochan and employs over 150 people across multiple locations. The company applies proprietary technology to produce environmentally friendly solid recovered fuels (RDFs) which replace fossil energy sources such as lignite and bituminous coal. These fuels are used in coal-fired power stations to generate heat and electricity while reducing carbon emissions. The recyclable materials such as paper, metal and plastics, are recovered in FFK’s sorting processes and marketed all over the world.

FFK is at the forefront of delivering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method of managing Europe’s burgeoning waste problem. In combination with the growing pressures on the power sector to generate more sustainable electricity, this results in exciting opportunities for growth. Zouk’s investment will support FFK to expand its geographical reach in addition to building on the strength and experience which have led to the company’s success to date.

Zouk Partner Dr Alois Flatz has joined FFK’s board to support the company’s development. He commented: “FFK is an established industry leader with great potential for expansion into new markets. Its model is proven and it is already the largest exporter of RDFs to Poland. Consistent profitability, strong management and proven technology positions FFK well to achieve its ambitious growth plan. Zouk’s capital and expertise will support the company in achieving these goals.”

Frank Kochan, CEO of FFK, said: “We are seeing huge opportunities for growth and are excited to have Zouk, as a leading clean-tech investor, support our efforts to bring these to fruition. I look forward to working closely with the Zouk team and to benefit from the value they bring to FFK.”

January 2012

Orb awarded First Runner Up of the Zayed Future

Orb awarded First Runner Up of the Zayed Future

- January 2012

Orb Energy were awarded first runner up in the NGO / SME category of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, winning a cash prize of US $1 million. One of the most prestigious global awards for renewable energy, the Zayed Future Energy Prize is awarded annually to large corporations, individuals, small businesses and non-governmental organizations that have made significant contributions to the future of energy.

Orb Energy received this award in recognition of its efforts towards creating a significant impact on India's energy landscape, by building a unique distribution model for solar energy that is helping to power Indian homes, enterprises, and entire villages.

According to Damian Miller, CEO of Orb Energy, "This award is a validation of our efforts towards reducing India's energy crisis through the use of sustainable solar powered technology, especially in rural areas. Our approach is differentiated by our unique range of solar systems, and our ability to reach out directly to the Indian solar consumer - delivering a superior product and unparalleled after sales service. We plan to use the prize money to expand our base to 200 branches over the next 18 months, to help us better serve India's growing energy requirements."

India PRwire

November 2011

Zouk invests in high-growth Canadian contractor OZZ Electric Inc

Zouk invests in high-growth Canadian contractor OZZ Electric Inc

- November 2011

Zouk Capital has invested in OZZ Electric, a leading full-service energy efficiency and electrical contractor based in Toronto, Canada. OZZ Electric was founded in 1991 and specializes in providing electrical installation and service contracts for large-scale residential, industrial, commercial and institutional construction. Responding to regional demand, the company has expanded its offering to include a full scope of low-carbon and energy efficiency technologies, including solar photovoltaics, building energy management systems and smart metering. The management team has existing expertise in the latter sector; the CEO co-founded global smart-meter company, Trilliant Inc. OZZ Electric has partnered with Zouk to help drive this expansion of the business, drawing on the UK investor’s experience of financing growth stage cleantech companies.

OZZ Solar, the renewable energy focused business unit, works with OZZ Electric to roll out solar photovoltaic installations in the province of Ontario. OZZ Electric’s long track record in electrical contracting positions the company favorably to execute its growth strategy. With over 500 employees and a strong network of subcontractors and suppliers, OZZ Electric is an established business which is proven to consistently deliver the high quality of service required in large contract work. Existing core services include design / build electrical installation, wiring, high voltage cabling, network systems and metering. OZZ Electric’s customer base includes property developers, builders, property managers and utilities across Canada.

Zouk Partner Anthony Fox, who has joined OZZ Electric’s Board of Directors, commented on the partnership: “By consistently delivering a high level of service, OZZ Electric has established itself as one of Canada’s leading electrical contractors. I believe the company’s exceptional reputation and proven capabilities will result in a successful expansion of the renewable energy and energy efficiency units. We have a good relationship with the management team and I am pleased Zouk’s capital and expertise is able to support the company’s development into one of Canada’s leading renewable energy contractors.”

November 2011

Zouk invests in va-Q-tec, a manufacturer of high performance insulation materials

Zouk invests in va-Q-tec, a manufacturer of high performance insulation materials

- November 2011

Zouk Capital LLP (“Zouk”) is pleased to announce its investment in va-Q-tec AG, a leading manufacturer of advanced insulation materials for use in consumer and industrial applications. Founded in 2000, the company is headquartered in Germany and has operations in the UK and South Korea. Zouk’s investment from its recent fund, Cleantech Europe II, will support continued development of the company’s product lines and expansion into new markets.

va-Q-tec designs and produces vacuum insulation panels used in refrigeration, packaging, cold-chain logistics, construction and automotive applications. The company’s patent-protected products perform up to ten times better on energy efficiency than conventional insulation materials, saving up to 80% in energy consumption. As va-Q-tec’s panels are particularly light-weight, thin and flexible they are applicable in a wide variety of industries. The company also provides heat & cool storage elements containing phase change materials which enhance insulation performance. va-Q-tec has manufacturing sites in Germany as well as service and operations sites in the UK and South Korea.

Zouk Principal Christopher Hoffmann, who will be joining va-Q-tec’s Board of Directors, said: “va-Q-tec is an emerging leader in its industry, with highly differentiated technology, widely demanded products, and a strong management team. We are delighted to be a shareholder in va-Q-tec and to support its growth as it develops into an industrial champion.”

Joachim Kuhn, CEO of va-Q-tec AG, said: “We are in the process of massive growth, both in Germany and abroad. As we take va-Q-tec to the next level and become an industrial player on a global scale we are also strengthening our circle of partners and shareholders. Zouk is a valuable partner to support our international growth trajectory. We look forward to working closely with the Zouk team and to benefit from the value they bring to our business.”

November 2011

Zouk invests in three high-growth cleantech companies

Zouk invests in three high-growth cleantech companies

- November 2011

Zouk Capital LLP (“Zouk”) is pleased to announce three new cleantech investments totaling more than €40 million from its latest fund, Cleantech Europe II. The fund closed earlier this year at €230 million and is Europe’s largest fund dedicated to growth capital investment in cleantech companies.

The first company, FFK Environment GmbH (“FFK”), uses proprietary technology to produce refuse-derived fuel (RDF) from multiple waste sources. This recycled fuel is a valuable method of reducing the carbon footprint of high emission industries (e.g. power and cement). The company is well established in Germany and is the country’s largest exporter of RDF to Poland. Zouk Partner Dr Alois Flatz has joined FFK’s board to support the company’s ambitious growth strategy while maintaining its regional leadership.

The second business, OZZ Electric Inc. (“OZZ”), is a full-service energy efficiency and electrical contractor in Canada. In partnership with OZZ Solar, the company offers commercial customers installation services for energy efficiency and solar technologies. Zouk’s investment will support OZZ’s continued growth driven through its contracting business, which is focused on solar installation, building management systems and smart meter rollout. Zouk Partner Anthony Fox joins the company’s board.

Finally, Zouk has invested in va-Q-tec AG (“va-Q-tec”) a global leader in advanced thermal insulation. Based in Germany, va-Q-tec designs and produces vacuum insulation panels used in refrigeration, packaging, cold-chain logistics, construction and automotive applications. va-Q-tec’s products perform up to ten times better on energy efficiency than conventional insulation materials and are applicable in a wide variety of industries. Zouk’s equity and expertise will help the company to develop its product offering and continue to expand its blue chip global customer base. The addition of Christopher Hoffmann, Zouk Principal, to the board will help the company achieve this growth plan.

Samer Salty, CEO of Zouk Capital, said:

“We are extremely pleased with this round of investments in high growth companies for Cleantech Europe II. Waste to fuel, insulation and energy efficiency technologies play key roles in driving the transition to a global low carbon economy: FFK, OZZ and va-Q-tec are leaders in these respective sectors. Through our active management strategy, extensive industry network and sector expertise, Zouk will help FFK, OZZ and va-Q-tec to realise their full potential and expand into global markets.”

October 2011

Trilliant is named in the 2011 Global Cleantech 100

Trilliant is named in the 2011 Global Cleantech 100

- October 2011

Trilliant, a global Smart Grid communications and solutions leader today announced it was named in the prestigious 2011 Global Cleantech 100, produced by Cleantech Group, a leading research firm focused on global cleantech innovation. The Global Cleantech 100 program is produced in collaboration with the UK’s Guardian News and Media.

The Global Cleantech 100 list is unique in the sector because it highlights the promise of private clean technology companies from all around the world, focusing on those companies which are most likely to make the most significant market impact over the next 5-10 years.

"This is the third year in a row that the Cleantech Group and the UK Guardian have recognized Trilliant for our cleantech innovation and continued leadership in making a positive impact through smart grid,” said Andy White, CEO of Trilliant. “We are proud and honoured to receive this prestigious accolade.”

The list is derived from Cleantech Group’s own data and research combined with the weighted qualitative judgments of hundreds of nominations and the viewpoints of a global panel of 70 cleantech experts. To qualify for the list, companies must be independent, for-profit, cleantech companies that are not listed on any major stock exchange.

“We are proud of how quickly the Global Cleantech 100 list has gained recognition as a leading resource in the cleantech sector,” said Sheeraz Haji, Cleantech Group CEO. “Stakeholders including members of the corporate community, investors, and regulators now watch the Global Cleantech 100 list closely to gauge which sectors look most promising and which companies are poised for growth.”

4,274 companies were nominated this year from more than 45 countries. These companies were weighted and scored to create a short list of 213 companies presented to the expert panel for final input. The end result was 100 companies from 16 countries.

The 70-strong expert panel is drawn from well-respected organisations in cleantech innovation from around the world, including leading investors in global cleantech and from a wide variety of corporations across many different industries, such as ABB, BASF, BP, Coca-Cola Company, DuPont, GE, General Motors, Procter and Gamble, and Vestas.

“The third Global Cleantech 100 exemplifies the best in cleantech innovation across the world,” said Richard Youngman, Managing Director, Europe & Asia, Cleantech Group and the founder of the Global Cleantech 100. “This list is based on the collective wisdom and experience of the world’s cleantech leaders and this year it truly reflects not only the most interesting companies, but also the mainstreaming of this dynamic industry.”

June 2011

Zouk raises Europe’s largest dedicated clean technology fund

Zouk raises Europe’s largest dedicated clean technology fund

- June 2011

Zouk Capital LLP, formerly Zouk ventures Ltd (“Zouk”), today announces the final closing of Cleantech Europe II (“the Fund”) at €230 million, comfortably ahead of the Fund’s original target of €200 million. Cleantech Europe II will be Europe’s largest dedicated growth equity fund in the cleantech space, a market which was worth over €70 billion in investments in 2010.

With over €370m in funds under management and 20 investment professionals, Zouk will continue to execute on its successful dual track strategy, investing in two cleantech asset classes: expansion-stage technology companies, and renewable & environmental infrastructure. By covering both asset classes with separate funds and teams, the firm has managed to create strong synergies with regard to deal flow, market insights, and the assessment of technologies and projects.

With Cleantech Europe II, Zouk will invest into expansion-stage businesses with the objective of building globally leading technology companies. Drawing on Zouk’s knowledge of the cleantech space, the Fund will seek investment opportunities primarily in renewable energy, energy efficiency, water and waste technologies. These markets continue to show strong growth, driven by increasing resource demand, security of supply, climate change considerations and political support.

Target geographies for the Fund include the UK, German-speaking countries, the Nordics, France and Benelux. Investments will be managed by Zouk’s technology team which consists of 10 investment professionals with deep expertise in private equity and technology. The team includes 5 native German speakers, a strong differentiator given the region’s leadership in cleantech innovation and commercialization.

Prior to its final closing, Cleantech Europe II has already made its first investment in Anesco, partnering with Scottish & Southern Energy to build a leading supplier of energy efficiency services in the UK.

Zouk has demonstrated its ability to drive rapid top-line growth and create value across its portfolio even through the recent financial crisis. Notably, a partial exit from SiC Processing AG in 2010 generated one of the highest investment returns in the cleantech space in recent years.

Despite a challenging environment for fundraising, the Fund has attracted a globally diverse institutional investor base including sovereign wealth funds, fund-of-funds, international corporations, pension funds and leading family offices.

Samer Salty, CEO of Zouk Capital, commented:

“Cleantech II is a real milestone for Zouk and the sector in Europe, and I am delighted that we have completed such a successful fundraising. The scale of this fund creates a game-changing opportunity to support companies and to let our investors benefit from the impressive growth in cleantech. The strong demand we have seen from investors is testament to their confidence in the cleantech market and to the credentials of our investment team. We now look to executing the exciting deals we have in our pipeline, helping these companies to realise their full potential and to generate strong returns on investment.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Zouk Capital LLP

Zouk Capital, formerly Zouk ventures Ltd, is an independent London-based private equity fund manager with a focus on the European cleantech market. Zouk’s goal is to create sustainable long term returns by building strong companies and projects with tangible financial and environmental value. Zouk specifically invests in two areas of this growth market: clean technology companies and renewable and environmental infrastructure. Currently Zouk manages three cleantech-focused funds: two expansion-stage private equity funds investing in clean technology companies; and a renewable infrastructure fund focused on solar project development. Zouk’s investment teams consist of professionals with a diverse experience base, including private equity, engineering, corporate management, investment banking and consultancy.

Clean technology investor Zouk Ventures (“Zouk”) is pleased to announce that it is partnering with UK power utility Scottish and Southern Energy (“SSE”) to build an energy efficiency and micro-generation solutions company in the UK named Anesco (“the company”). Zouk and SSE will be co-lead investors in the deal and will each take a Board seat in the company. Zouk and SSE believe that Anesco will be well placed to exploit the strong regulatory and governmental support that exists in the UK for the shift to a low carbon, energy-secure economy. Initiatives such as the Clean Energy Cash Back, Renewable Heat Incentive and the recently announced Green Deal have created an enormous opportunity for specialists in this sector.

Anesco will support the UK’s shift towards a low carbon economy by providing energy efficiency and micro-generation solutions to domestic and commercial customers. These solutions will cover a broad range of technologies and areas, including solar power, renewable heating, insulation, as well as other energy efficiency measures, including lighting and building energy management systems. In addition, Anesco will also provide energy services to businesses, including energy efficiency consultancy and a range of ongoing energy monitoring solutions.

The company will bring with it elements of SSE’s existing renewables and contracting business and will be managed by an experienced and proven management team, recruited from within SSE. Adrian Pike and Tim Payne will take up the positions of CEO and COO respectively. Building on its current position, the company will leverage zouk’s network and access to technology providers as well as SSE’s eminent green implementation track record to rapidly grow the business and gain a dominant position in the energy efficiency market in the UK.

Alistair Philips-David, Board Director at of SSE, said:

“SSE is committed to making a sizeable contribution to the UK’s national goals of reducing carbon footprint through increased use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. We are delighted that zouk, who we view as a leading investor in the clean technologies space, will be partnering with SSE to build Anesco. We hope the partnership will allow us to bring the latest technologies and best solutions to our customers. We are confident that the combination of a strong management team and the close support of both zouk and SSE, Anesco can move quickly to become a market leader in the fast-growing energy efficiency sector.”

Samer Salty, CEO of zouk and board member of Anesco, commented:

“Everyone at zouk is delighted to be partnering with SSE in this exciting company. Commercial and domestic demand for energy efficiency solutions will increase dramatically over the coming years, creating a market in the billions per year from the strong support by the UK government and regulators. We are proud to partner with such an established player and this deal is a true recognition of our leadership and expertise in cleantech. Anesco, with its highly experienced team and clear early mover advantage in a market with a huge potential, gives us confidence that we can generate a very attractive return for our investors.”

Triton Water AG (“Triton”) has announced that EDB Investments (“EDBI”) of Singapore is investing in Triton, the leading provider of complete water-cycle industrial and maritime water treatment solutions, backed by zouk ventures. EDBI has acquired a stake in Triton, based in Norderstedt, Germany, and will also get a seat on the company’s supervisory board. Also joining the round was Wölbern Private Equity GmbH, through its cleantech fund, as second largest investor in this round, also represented on the supervisory board. Triton offers its clients, which include major industrial and maritime players such as Airbus, Philips, SiC Processing and Hapag Lloyd, a unique one-stop shop for their water requirements. The investment will support Triton’s strategy to establish a presence in Southeast Asia. This region represents an important opportunity to drive sustainable and profitable growth. One of the many opportunities that this region will offer Triton is the chance to work with global partners to develop applications for its cutting-edge new product, CompEx, a rubber powder solution that separates oil from water and could become a game-changing tool in response to offshore oil spills as well as many other industrial applications.

Frank J. Kroll, CEO of Triton Water AG and former European Head of Siemens Water, hailed EDBI’s investment as a major milestone in the company’s international expansion plans:

“EDBI’s investment is an important step in Triton’s strategy of expanding the company’s activities overseas, in particular into Southeast Asia. Securing a partner of EDBI’s calibre, which has a strategic focus on the clean technology sector, is testament to Triton’s industry-leading status in water treatment. EDBI’s decision to invest in our business is particularly pleasing given the strategic importance of Singapore as a hub for development of water technologies and as a dynamic business centre that is home to many large and fast growing companies. We look forward to working closely with EDBI to seize the exciting opportunities for our business in Singapore and the wider region.”

Chu Swee-Yeok, CEO of EDBI, commented:

“Triton’s presence as a leading global industrial and maritime water player will strengthen the fast growing base of water technologies and solutions companies in Singapore. We look forward to working closely with Triton to drive its growth strategies for Asia, and leveraging on our extensive networks to execute the company’s Asian plans with Singapore as its headquarters for business and industrial research on new product applications.”

Felix von Schubert, member of Triton’s supervisory board and co-founder of zouk ventures, the principal investor in Triton, also welcomed EDBI’s investment:

“The fact that such a respected investor has decided to acquire a stake in Triton is credit to the progress the company has made over the last two years. It also demonstrates the value that zouk adds to its portfolio companies, in this case by leveraging our presence and network in Singapore. Triton’s expansion into Southeast Asia is an important element of the company’s growth strategy. The partnership with EDBI, along with the substantial investment by Wölbern Private Equity, will help to underpin this next stage of Triton’s development.”

“Through its ProKlima fund, Wölbern Private Equity is committed to selecting the most attractive cleantech investments for its investors. Triton is a prime example of best-in-class home-grown German technology on the verge of major international expansion, a perfect fit for our investment strategy. We are excited to be working alongside EDBI and zouk in bringing this company to the next level.”

zouk ventures is pleased to announce the completion of a $106 million funding round held by its portfolio company, Trilliant Inc, a leader in delivering Smart Grid solutions. The round was led by two highly-respected financial investors, Investor Growth Capital and VantagePoint Venture Partners. In addition, General Electric and ABB, a European power technology group, joined the round as strategic industrial investors. As an existing investor, zouk has continued to support the company strategically and financially.

"We are delighted to welcome such an influential group of investors to Trilliant", said Anthony Fox, Trilliant Board member and the zouk Partner responsible for the investment. "Such a combination of financial and strategic investors will continue to strengthen Trilliant’s position as one of the pre-eminent players in the Smart Grid market."

"Our new investors represent some of the largest and most trusted companies in the utility industry," said Andy White, President and CEO of Trilliant. "Their combined industry experience, financial strength, and global footprint will provide us with the resources to expand our Smart Grid solutions across North America and to a global marketplace. The strength and caliber of our partners will give current and future customers confidence that they have chosen a long-term market leader."

Trilliant will use the financing and strategic relationships to fund Trilliant's product development and continued international growth. Recently, the company won a contract to build a $200 million smart-meter system for the 610,000 customers of Central Maine Power Co, an Iberdrola USA company. In Europe, Trilliant leveraged zouk’s regional knowledge and networks to win the first Smart Grid contract in the UK with Centrica (British Gas) in October 2009. With over 200 utility customers, including Hydro One in Ontario, Canada, Trilliant has developed of the largest Smart Grid installations in the world.

August 2010

zouk sells stake in SiC Processing AG

zouk sells stake in SiC Processing AG

- August 2010

zouk ventures (“zouk”) is pleased to announce the completion of its partial exit from SiC Processing AG (“SiC Processing”), a leading supplier of wire-saw slurry used in silicon wafer production for solar photovoltaic cells. The exit results from the recent acquisition of 70% of SiC Processing by Nordic Capital Fund VII (“Nordic Capital”). The acquisition of SiC Processing by Nordic Capital is one of the largest European cleantech transactions to have been executed over the last two years.

Having led the company’s €53 million growth capital investment round in October 2007, zouk has sold 5.7% of its shareholding at a return multiple which strongly validates its European growth capital investment strategy. As a testament to zouk’s confidence in the company’s potential and the quality of its management team, zouk has retained a stake of 5% in order to benefit from an expected future upside.

SiC Processing is headquartered in Hirschau, Germany and has production facilities in Germany, Norway, Italy, China and the USA. The company generates over 90% of revenues from customers in photovoltaic wafer manufacturing, but also serves major manufacturers in the semiconductor industry.

The initial funding round in October 2007 provided the company with the capital and resources to drive an international expansion programme and triple processing capacity. As a result, the company was able to realize its true potential: revenue increased at 58% CAGR from €24 million in 2006 to €150 million (expected) in 2010. Nordic Capital’s acquisition represents the next stage in the company’s development which will see the company continue its strong growth trajectory and cement its position as the global market leader for slurry recycling.

“The realisation of SiC Processing is a great success story for zouk and the Cleantech Europe I investors, providing a clear demonstration of the returns that can be generated by zouk’s cleantech investment strategy,” said Dr. Alois Flatz, Partner at zouk. “It is also a great example of how value can be created through an active investment approach coupled with a strong and trusting business partnership.”

Thomas Heckmann, CEO and Founder of SiC Processing stated, “zouk has proved to be an excellent strategic investor and exactly the partner we required to build SiC Processing into the global market leader it is today. From the very beginning our objectives were aligned, and there was always a strong cultural proximity between zouk’s team and ours. zouk’s active investment management approach provided a valuable resource to SiC Processing and positions them as a strong partner and investor for the German Mittelstand.”

Dr. Sönke Bästlein, Partner at Nordic Capital in Frankfurt, added, “We are impressed by what the management team at SiC Processing has achieved over three years in partnership with the zouk-led syndicate of investors. We see great potential in continuing this trajectory and are delighted to be supporting the company on the execution of its expansion pipeline. We will be working closely with the management team to further strengthen SiC Processing’s position as a leading supplier to the solar wafer manufacturing industry.”

For further information, please contact:

Patrick Shuttleworth

Investor Relations, zouk ventures ltd

+44 (0) 20 7947 3400

October 2009

zouk organises electric-mobility financing workshop at eCarTec Munich

zouk organises electric-mobility financing workshop at eCarTec Munich

- October 2009

zouk ventures ltd is proud to announce its involvement in the organisation of Munich’s eCarTec trade fair in October 2009. eCarTec is the world’s first trade show to focus exclusively on electric mobility. Bringing together technology startups and automotive OEMs, investors and regulators, service providers and the general public, the show aims to provide a holistic view of the present and future of the electric mobility sector.

Drawing from its experiences in financing both technologies and infrastructure in the cleantech space, zouk has worked closely with the organisers of eCarTec to develop a workshop on financing electric mobility. The workshop comprises of two specialist panels, one on venture capital technology funding and one on infrastructure funding, and a showcase session for emerging e-mobility companies. A high quality and diverse roster of speakers has been assembled for the event to provide maximum insight into the sector and its financing requirements over the coming years. The keynote speaker, Gherardo Corsini of GM Europe, is responsible for the development of the next generation of electric cars, the Chevrolet Volt and the Opel Ampera.

Alois Flatz, Partner at zouk, stated, “We see great potential in the growth market of electric-mobility. In creating the eCarTec financing workshop, zouk strengthens its position as one of Europe’s leading cleantech investors, and importantly, one prepared to take a stance. In enabling relevant minds in private finance and entrepreneurship to voice their opinions at the workshop, we aim to accelerate the development of this key sector to parity with conventional mobility systems.”

About eCarTec Munich

eCarTec will be held at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre and will present electric vehicles, storage technology, drive and engine technology. It also deals with the topics of energy, infrastructure and financing. A training area for latest electric vehicles is also included. The trade fair focuses on a specialist audience, including decision makers from business and politics. Moreover, the eCarTec Award will be granted in five categories for the first time: The organizers seek to award the most innovative and promising projects, products or technologies from the field of electromobility.

About zouk ventures

Founded in 1999, zouk ventures is a London based investment manager focusing on expansion stage capital in cleantech markets as well as renewable and environmental infrastructure opportunities. zouk currently manages three technology funds and invests in solar infrastructure projects through zouk Solar Opportunities Ltd. zouk has been a leading investor in the carbon market for over seven years and is a founding member of the Cleantech Venture Network in Europe. For more information please visit www.zouk.com.

SiC Processing, Trilliant, Solarcentury and Sulfurcell Solartechnik, four of eight companies in the Cleantech Europe LP portfolio, ranked in the top 100 global cleantech companies by Guardian News and Media and Cleantech Group™, LLC, in recognition of their potential and likelihood to achieve high growth and high market impact. The Global Cleantech 100 is the first ever list highlighting the most promising private clean technology companies around the world. Supported by the Carbon Trust, the Global Cleantech 100 recognises companies at the forefront of cleantech innovation offering solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

The final list represents the collective opinion of hundreds of leading experts from cleantech innovation and venture capital companies in EMEA, North America, India and China, combined with the specific input of an expert panel of 35, drawn from well-respected organisations such as Altira Group, Crossover Advisors, Deloitte, Emerald Technology Ventures, Google, Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers, New York Stock Exchange, NGEN Partners, Nth Power, New Enterprise Associates, Sterling Communications, Tsing Capital, Vantage Point Venture Partners and zouk ventures.

The panel’s views were combined with insights from the Cleantech Network™, the de facto industry association of international clean technology investors,entrepreneurs, large corporations and other industry insiders. Some 3,500 companies were nominated/considered.

“The first ever Global Cleantech 100 shines a spotlight on which companies and which technology areas the global innovation community is most excited about from a commercial standpoint,” said Richard Youngman, managing partner at Cleantech Group.

The full list of Global Cleantech 100 firms is available on the Guardian (guardian.co.uk/globalcleantech100) and Cleantech Group (cleantech.com/news/awards/globalcleantech100) websites.

About the Cleantech Group, LLC

The Cleantech Group pioneered the clean technology investment category in 2002. Today, it accelerates the development and market adoption of clean technologies globally. The company’s worldwide network of investors, entrepreneurs, enterprises, service providers and other —representing trillions of dollars in assets—receives access to capital, investment deal flow, networking, market leading research and data, sales leads and promotional opportunities. The Cleantech Group also provides advisory services for large corporations and governments, publishes leading cleantech sector industry news coverage and produces the premier Cleantech Forum® events worldwide. Details are available at http://www.cleantech.com.

About the Guardian

The Guardian is a unique voice with an international reach delivering progressive journalism to a global audience. The Guardian's vision is to be the leader on sustainability within the media industry and to be environmentally regenerative in their activities. Through their editorial coverage and business activities, they demonstrate to readers, staff, advertisers, suppliers and their communities that GNM (Guardian News and Media) is committed to enhancing society's ability to build a sustainable future.

About zouk ventures

Founded in 1999, zouk ventures is a London based investment manager focusing on expansion stage capital in cleantech markets as well as renewable and environmental infrastructure opportunities. zouk currently manages three technology funds and invests in solar infrastructure projects through zouk Solar Opportunities Ltd. zouk has been a leading investor in the carbon market for over seven years and is a founding member of the Cleantech Venture Network in Europe. For more information please visit www.zouk.com.

For further information please contact:

Philip Tomlin, Investor Relationsptomlin@zouk.com+44 (0)20 7947 3421

February 2009

zouk leads €10m financing round in Triton-Format AG, a leading water solutions company, to fund further organic growth and continue its successful buy-and-build strategy

zouk leads €10m financing round in Triton-Format AG, a leading water solutions company, to fund further organic growth and continue its successful buy-and-build strategy

- February 2009

Triton Format AG ('Triton'), a leading water solutions company, today announces the completion of a EUR 10.4 million round of financing to fund further organic growth and continue its successful buy-and-build strategy. The round was led by zouk ventures ltd ('zouk'), a European cleantech investor, and was joined by Meidlinger Partners, LLC ('Meidlinger'), a US based investor with a strong background in the water industry, and by senior management.

Triton is a leading provider of water solutions for the maritime, industrial and small municipal sectors. The company designs, assembles and installs water treatment modules ranging from low-energy desalination, to water management and waste water systems. Triton’s best-of-breed technologies help customers improve the economics and efficiency of core industrial production processes, and comply with tightening environmental constraints in increasingly water distressed areas. With its recent acquisitions in the maritime and industrial sectors, Triton has established an integrated water technology platform aimed at serving its customers across the entire water cycle. Triton serves clients in Europe, the Middle East, the USA and China.

In conjunction with this investment, Triton also announces the appointment of Dr. Hartmut Kacirek, CEO of the Triton subsidiary WAT GmbH, to Triton’s executive management team as Chief Technical Officer (CTO). In addition, Professor Alexander Zehnder and Felix von Schubert will join the company’s Supervisory Board. Professor Zehnder is a globally recognized water expert with decades of academic and applied experience in the water sector. He is also a member of zouk’s cleantech Industry Advisory Group. Felix von Schubert is a Partner at zouk.

Dr. Kacirek and Dr. Thomas Zubke-von Thünen, members of Triton’s executive management team, commented: 'We are delighted with the commitment from our new investors and are keen to leverage their experience in building a world-class water company. This funding round will enable us to continue our buy-and-build strategy and become a leader in the fragmented water market.'

'Triton is a very exciting addition to zouk’s cleantech portfolio,' said Felix von Schubert. 'zouk invested in Triton because we see significant growth potential for small and medium-sized water treatment and water efficiency systems. Triton has the right scalable platform to tackle a large underlying market. This is an impressive company and we look forward to working closely with the team.'

Professor Zehnder said: 'Triton combines a highly valuable set of technical capabilities that clearly addresses customer needs in multiple industries. From what I have seen in the water space, this company clearly stands out has having a unique and promising growth strategy.'

'Triton presents an exciting opportunity in the water sector, and we are pleased to partner with zouk, a leading European cleantech investor, in this investment,' said Kevin Brophy, partner at Meidlinger. 'We look forward to actively supporting Triton’s international expansion efforts, especially since Triton's strategy aligns perfectly with our mission to promote a more sustainable environment and economy.'

About Triton Format

Founded in 1851, Triton-Format AG is a German water technology and solutions firm based in Norderstedt/Hamburg. The company has established a strong brand in the maritime sector and has recently expanded its capabilities to land-based applications. Today, Triton serves a diversified group of customers in the maritime and industrial sectors as well as small communities and resorts. Hallmark projects include sustainable solutions developed for Airbus Industries, SeaCloud Cruises and SiC Processing. For more information please visit www.triton-format.com

About zouk ventures

Founded in 1999, zouk ventures is a London based investment manager focusing on expansion stage capital in cleantech markets as well as renewable and environmental infrastructure opportunities. zouk currently manages two technology funds and invests in solar infrastructure projects through zouk Solar Opportunities Ltd. zouk has been a leading investor in the carbon market for over nine years and is a founding member of the Cleantech Venture Network in Europe. For more information please visit www.zouk.com

About Meidlinger Partners

Founded in 2008, Meidlinger Partners, LLC is a Philadelphia based private equity investment firm dedicated to capitalizing businesses that will make a meaningful contribution towards a more sustainable environment and economy. With expertise in the water and cleantech sectors, Meidlinger’s first fund, the Meidlinger Partners Sustainable Investments, LP, invests in and partners with businesses that are positioned to provide real solutions to the world’s growing water, energy and environmental challenges. For more information please visit www.meidlingerpartners.net

Trilliant Incorporated, a leader in delivering intelligent network solutions that form the nervous system of the Smart Grid, today announced that it has closed a $40 million equity investment from an affiliate of MissionPoint Capital Partners and zouk ventures. MissionPoint and zouk are leading international investors in the low-carbon and clean energy markets. The proceeds from the financing, which was led by MissionPoint, will be used to accelerate Trilliant's continued growth and market expansion globally. This investment represents one of the largest investments to date in an independent Smart Grid technology provider, reflecting Trilliant’s position as a leading provider of Smart Grid communication infrastructure that enables major improvements in energy efficiency and grid reliability, while giving utilities the ability to provide new services and empower customer choice.

In conjunction with this investment, Trilliant also announced the appointment of Mark J. Lewis and Anthony Fox to its Board of Directors. Mr. Lewis is currently a Managing Director with MissionPoint and has close to 20 years of experience in the global energy industry. Anthony Fox is a Partner at zouk ventures.

'We are extremely pleased to be working alongside Trilliant as it helps its customers build out the Smart Grid,' said Mark Lewis, Managing Director at MissionPoint. 'When you look at Trilliant's years of experience successfully developing and delivering advanced Smart Grid technology solutions as well as the quality and breadth of its offerings, it’s clear that Trilliant is a leader in this industry. With this investment Trilliant is set to build upon its already impressive accomplishments both in North America and in key international markets.'

For more than twenty years, Trilliant has been delivering innovative products, services and solutions that provide utility customers with advanced energy management capabilities. Today, Trilliant products and services form the core infrastructure of the Smart Grid, the critical communication system that enables intelligent sensing, communication, and control of utility system elements. More than 100 utilities have benefitted from Trilliant's expertise over the years, and many of these utilities are currently partnering with Trilliant today to deploy Smart Grid infrastructure and solutions.

'Trilliant is unmatched in combining innovation with practical experience drawn from deep roots in the energy industry,' said Anthony Fox, Partner at zouk ventures. 'This is precisely the combination of skills required to grow the Smart Grid and specifically why we chose to invest in Trilliant. We look forward to working with Trilliant as it develops its global presence in the Smart Grid market.'

Announcement of this financing follows several notable achievements by Trilliant in recent months:

Trilliant has now delivered more than 750,000 intelligent devices with integrated communications supporting advanced metering, demand response and other Smart Grid applications

Trilliant, along with its partners, Capgemini, GE and Motorola, was recently recognized at the annual Edison Electric Institute Conference for the completion of major project milestones in the 1.3 million meter Hydro One deployment, one of the largest ongoing advanced metering deployments in North America

Trilliant has also recently announced a strategic relationship with Advanced Innovations Ltd. to support global Smart Grid initiatives. The announcement was made in conjunction with a visit to the U.S. by Ireland Taoiseach Mr. Brian Cowen

'We are honored to have MissionPoint and zouk join us in our efforts to deliver Smart Grid solutions to the global utility industry,' said Bill Vogel, CEO of Trilliant. 'Trilliant has a very ambitious goal. We intend to be the leading provider of advanced Smart Grid solutions globally, helping utilities upgrade and modernize their network infrastructure and expand their energy management capabilities with best-in-class, flexible, robust solutions and service. Our partnership with MissionPoint and zouk significantly accelerates that goal.'

About Trilliant Incorporated

Trilliant is a leader in delivering intelligent networks that enable the transition to the Smart Grid. Trilliant offers a combination of hardware, software and services that serve as the nervous system of the Smart Grid. Since its founding in 1985, the company has been a leading innovator in the delivery and implementation of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), demand response, and grid management solutions. Trilliant also offers installation, program management and meter revenue cycle services. Trilliant focuses on providing an array of flexible and robust options for utility companies, ranging from meter, network and IT infrastructures to full or hybrid outsource models. Trilliant has more than 100 utility customers including Duke Energy, E.ON US (Louisville Gas & Electric), Hydro One, Hydro Quebec, Jamaica Public Service Company Limited, Milton Hydro, Northeast Utilities, PowerStream, Public Service Electric & Gas, San Diego Gas & Electric, Toronto Hydro Electric System Ltd., and Union Gas. The company is privately owned. For more information please visit www.trilliantinc.com.

About MissionPoint Capital Partners

MissionPoint Capital Partners is a leading international private investment firm focused on financing the global transition to a low-carbon economy. MissionPoint provides growth capital to energy, industrial and financial services companies that enable cleaner, more environmentally-friendly energy, transportation and industrial infrastructure. MissionPoint’s portfolio of companies are focused on transforming the way business is conducted in the face of a rising demand for cleaner, more efficient generation and use of energy across all sectors of the global economy. For more information please visit www.missionpointcapital.com

About zouk ventures

Founded in 1999, zouk ventures is a London based investment manager focusing on expansion stage capital in cleantech markets as well as renewable and environmental infrastructure opportunities. zouk currently manages two technology funds and invests in solar infrastructure projects through zouk Solar Opportunities Ltd. zouk has been a leading investor in the carbon market for over seven years and is a founding member of the Cleantech Venture Network in Europe. For more information please visit www.zouk.com.

For further information please contact:

Philip Tomlin, Investor Relationsptomlin@zouk.com+44 (0)20 7947 3421

July 2008

zouk's Cleantech Europe fund increases its shareholding in Orb Energy

zouk's Cleantech Europe fund increases its shareholding in Orb Energy

- July 2008

zouk today announced that Cleantech Europe, a technology fund managed by the firm, has agreed to increase its shareholding in Orb Energy (“Orb”) by purchasing shares held by Renewable Capital. Samer Salty, CEO of zouk said: “Orb has managed growth extremely well and is fast becoming a major player in the region. We believe the company has the right team, strategy and delivery model to tackle this very large market opportunity.”

Orb CEO Damian Miller commented: “We welcome zouk's move to increase their shareholding in Orb and appreciate the vote of confidence this represents. zouk was an early investor in Orb and has contributed to our early growth and success.”

Orb has already built a strong presence in India. In just over one year, the company has established 40 branches throughout the state of Karnataka. By the end of the year it is targeting 60-70 branches. At an Orb branch, customers can purchase solar photovoltaic systems for back-up power, solar thermal systems for hot water, and a range of solar lighting solutions. Orb also helps customers arrange a loan and provides long-term service.About zouk

Founded in 1999, zouk is a London based investment manager focusing on Cleantech as well as renewable and environmental infrastructure. zouk currently manages two technology funds and invests in solar infrastructure projects through zouk Solar Opportunities Limited. For further information please visit www.zouk.com

About Orb Energy

Orb’s sales and assembly operations are headquartered in Bangalore, India. Orb's main activities are product development, assembly, sales, marketing, installation and servicing of solar systems through a network of branches and dealers.

For further information please contact:

Philip Tomlin, Investor Relationsptomlin@zouk.com+44 (0)20 7947 3421

July 2008

zouk invests in Sulfurcell, a leading German producer of thin film solar PV modules

zouk invests in Sulfurcell, a leading German producer of thin film solar PV modules

- July 2008

Sulfurcell, a global leader in the development and manufacture of copper indium gallium sulphide/selenide (“CIS”/”CIGSE”) photovoltaics (“PV”), today announced it has secured EUR 85 million (USD 135M) equity funding for a significant expansion of its manufacturing capacity with a new plant in Berlin for CIS/CIGSe based thin-film solar modules. The new plant will have an annual capacity of 75 MW with an intermediate expansion to 35 MW. With this significant financing Sulfurcell will transfer its proprietary production technology, developed in its pilot plant, into mass production. The round will also fund Sulfurcell’s long-term development projects.

Dr. Nikolaus Meyer, CEO Sulfurcell, said: “This funding round constitutes a major milestone for Sulfurcell towards our goal of becoming a global leader in the CIS/CIGSe thin-film PV field. During its three years of operation, Sulfurcell’s current pilot production line has been successfully ramped to volume and reached a high level of maturity along all key process indicators including module power, throughput and yield.”

“With our aesthetically outstanding product and our manufacturing technology now ready for large-scale commercial roll-out, we have laid a solid foundation for an aggressive growth strategy”, said Meyer. “The capacity expansion to 75 MW annual production volume will enable us to respond to the rapidly increasing demand from our customers in all market segments and to deliver on the promise of CIS/CIGSe thin-film PV technologies.”

“Our investment in Sulfurcell confirms zouk’s strategy of investing in leading technology companies along the solar value chain. In addition to our clean technology funds, we have recently launched a solar project finance fund and expect to build on strong synergies with this new investment to create one of the leading thin film companies.” said Felix von Schubert, Partner at zouk ventures.

“Sulfurcell is a very exciting addition to Intel Capital’s global portfolio,” said Heiko von Dewitz, Investment Director of Intel Capital’s clean tech investments in Europe and Israel. “Intel Capital invested in Sulfurcell because both CIS and CIGSe thin-film PV have demonstrated potential for high conversion efficiencies, providing opportunities for further reductions in cost per watt, and enable emerging applications such as BIPV (‘building integrated photovoltaics’). Sulfurcell’s capacity expansion into high volume production will help with broader market adoption.”

May 2008

Zooplus goes public on Frankfurt Stock Exchange

Zooplus goes public on Frankfurt Stock Exchange

- May 2008

Zooplus AG, a leading internet supplier for pet products in Europe (food and accessories), went public today. The Listing took place on the Entry Standard, part of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Zooplus was founded in 1999. In the last financial year (2007) the company’s turnover was €55.4m, an increase of more than 40% on the average for each of the last 3 years. Zooplus generated net income of €626k in 2007 and employed 51 people. So far, the company’s business model has been successfully introduced to 13 countries, including Germany, UK, France, Benelux and Austria.

The product range is mainly based around pet food as well as accessories. In addition to the range of 7,000 products, Zooplus offers an online vet consultation service and community forum, Zooclub, where likeminded people can chat about their experiences and ask pet related questions.Pet products are a very important market segment in the European retail industry. In 2006, pet food and pet accessories generated approximately €17bn of sales.

Dr Cornelius Patt, CEO and co- founder of Zooplus, commented on the IPO: “In 1999, Zooplus was just an attempt to see whether it was possible to sell pet food online, directly to the customer. Now, we are making revenues of more than €50m. We are a very strong, fast growing player, with sustained success and ambitious plans for expansion. Therefore, going public was a logical move for us, raising awareness of Zooplus’ success to higher levels.”

Felix von Schubert, Partner at zouk ventures and non-executive Chairman of Zooplus explained: “It is great to support an investment from business plan stage to IPO. The team at Zooplus have done very well in developing the company into Europe’s leading specialist internet retailer. It is the consequent use of technology in all aspects of the business that has helped the team in creating such a rapidly growing and profitable company.”

Zooplus AG

Zooplus AG is Europe's largest internet retailer specialising in high quality pet food and pet accessories. The company is active in over 13 countries and has achieved market leadership through intelligent marketing, continuous focus on operational execution, and a state-of-the-art logistics system.For further information please visit www.zooplus.com

Nanotron Technologies, the leading provider of energy-efficient location-aware wireless solutions, today announced it has completed the funding round led by London-based Cleantech investor zouk ventures ltd and DEWB. zouk and DEWB invest alongside Nanotron's other investors, consisting of Polytechnos, Danfoss, and IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft - VC Fonds Berlin. The executive management team also participated in the funding round. The new investment will allow Nanotron to continue its aggressive international growth.

The company will use the funding to further increase market share and customer adoption of its chirp-based energy-efficient wireless solutions. Sales and marketing presence will expand in growing international markets, aiming to capitalize on its current success within the key sectors of mobile, consumer, manufacturing, logistics and healthcare. Furthermore, the new capital will support product development, continuing the company's track record for innovation.

Commenting on their first major new investment for three years, Bertram Köhler, Member of the DEWB Management Board, and said “With Nanotron's unique and patented technology, its success in standardization backed by a highly experienced management team, there is significant potential for Nanotron to gain a disproportionate benefit from the growth in the market for wireless communication and location. The fact that Nanotron has successfully attracted high-profile key clients demonstrates the value of this investment decision,” stated Köhler, who joins the Nanotron Board of Directors.

“With its superior reliability and precision compared to other technologies, and the much lower energy consumption of the transmission method, even in harsh radio environments, Nanotron's system offers a wide range of potential uses,” explains Felix von Schubert, Partner at zouk ventures and member of the Nanotron Board of Directors. He went on to add: “Whether it's an industrial application for container or asset tracking, modern traffic control systems or applications for the integration of intelligent energy meters, the fast and straightforward assembly of the necessary infrastructure enables users to implement these networks on an ad-hoc basis in accordance with the “plug & play” principle.”

“We are particularly pleased with this investment from DEWB alongside our existing partners as this vindicates the strength of our business proposition,” says Dr. Jens N. Albers, Nanotron's CEO. “DEWB's experience will enable us to expand and capitalize on our growing international customer base.”

Founded in 1999, zouk is a London based investment manager focusing on Cleantech as well as renewable and environmental infrastructure. zouk currently manages two technology funds and invests in solar infrastructure projects through zouk Solar Opportunities Limited. For further information please visit www.zouk.com

About Nanotron Technologies

Nanotron Technologies is a leader and innovator in the design, manufacturing and sales of world-class wireless products for manufacturing, logistics and healthcare applications. These products include integrated circuits, modules, and board level subsystems based on its patented Chirp transmission system. Chirp technology guarantees high robustness and ultra-low energy consumption. Nanotron's Chirp technology is part of the IEEE 802.15.4a standard for wireless PANs. The company's key product, nanoLOC, works in the license-free ISM band at 2.4 GHz, and was developed for the booming RTLS, sensor networking and industrial control markets. Nanotron Technologies was founded in 1991 and is an active member of IEEE, ISO, EPC-Global and the ZigBee alliance. The company is headquartered in Berlin, Germany.

Solarcentury Holdings Limited (“Solarcentury” or “the Company”) today announces the completion of a £13.5m round of financing to fund its product development and international expansion strategy. The round was led by zouk ventures, a European Cleantech investor, and co-led by Good Energies, a global investor in renewable energy. Additional investors are Vantania Holdings Limited (advised by the Consensus Business Group) and Foursome Investments, along with participation by existing investors VantagePoint Venture Partners and Scottish and Southern Energy.

Established in 1999, Solarcentury is a leading provider of a range of award winning proprietary and third party photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal products to commercial, residential and public sector customers in the UK and other European countries, focusing on building integrated product solutions. The Company maintains a strong network of distributors and installers while successfully working with large building contractors and property developers.

Jeremy Leggett, founder and CEO of Solarcentury, commented, “We are delighted with the commitment from our new investors, who are leading institutions in the solar and clean technology sectors. Their expertise will be a valuable contribution to Solarcentury’s development and growth. This new investment further strengthens our position as a leader in building integrated solar products.”

Samer Salty, CEO of zouk ventures, said, “Solarcentury has an impressive track record in the UK solar market and we are excited about the prospect of further European expansion. Favourable market conditions, supportive legislation and early sales successes have signaled that now is the time to push further into international markets. The Company’s experienced management team is well positioned to capture the fast growing building integrated solar opportunity and we look forward to working with them”. zouk’s investment in Solarcentury further builds its portfolio of leading European Cleantech companies.

“With this investment round Solarcentury will take the next steps towards European expansion. We are a proud investor in one of the future leaders in the downstream solar PV business in Europe”, Sven Hansen, Chief Investment Officer of Good Energies said. Good Energies’ investment in Solarcentury is an important step in strengthening its downstream portfolio in photovoltaics.

Solarcentury is the UK’s leading solar energy company, specialising in the design and supply of building integrated solar technologies. Solarcentury is in business for a purpose: to help create a cleaner world and a sustainable future. Based in London, with operations in the UK, France and Spain, it has installed over 500 solar systems including those on the Eden Project, Vauxhall Cross Bus Terminal and Europe’s largest vertical solar facade on the CIS Tower, Manchester. Solarcentury has helped thousands of homes go solar through its network of associate installers and is the founding company of the schools initiative Solar4Schools. In 2006, Solarcentury was named the UK’s Fastest Growing Renewable Energy Company by The Sunday Times Tech Track 100. www.solarcentury.com

zouk

Founded in 1999, zouk is a London based investment manager focusing on Cleantech as well as renewable and environmental infrastructure. zouk currently manages two technology funds and invests in solar infrastructure projects through zouk Solar Opportunities Limited. For further information please visit www.zouk.com

Good Energies

Good Energies is a leading investor in the renewable energy industry, managing the renewable energies portfolio of the COFRA Group, a privately owned group of companies. The current market capitalization of its portfolio is over five billion dollars. Good Energies places its emphasis on the interrelated business areas of solar energy, wind energy, load management and green buildings. Good Energies operates globally with offices in Zug/Switzerland, London, New York, Washington D.C. and Toront

December 2017

Enviromena acquired by arjun

Enviromena acquired by arjun

Abu Dhabi, UAE - December 2017

ENVIROMENA POWER SYSTEMS ACQUIRED BY ARJUN INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS

Enviromena Power Systems (Enviromena), a leading clean energy project company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), today announced it has been acquired by ARJUN INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS (AIP).

UAE-based Enviromena develops, deploys and operates clean energy solutions throughout the MENA region. With a project footprint spanning nine countries, the company has installed more than 17,000 solar systems and has the largest portfolio of solar rooftops in the region. The company has over 175 MW of projects under operation and a further 500 MW under construction.

Surinder Toor, Founding Partner of AIP, says: “We are very excited to complete this transaction and become part of the incredible story of clean energy in the MENA. We are firm believers in the solar opportunity presented in the region, and see Enviromena as the ideal platform to facilitate our strategy to deploy capital into renewable assets.” Sami Khoreibi, Chief Executive Officer of Enviromena, says: “This transaction comes at perfect time for Enviromena. The opportunity to deploy solar assets throughout MENA is happening now, and the strategic support and access to capital that AIP brings to the table enables us to enhance our position as the market leader.

“We are very thankful towards our previous shareholders, particularly Masdar and Zouk Capital, who were early believers in the potential for solar in the region, and provided valuable guidance and support over our years of growth.”

July 2017

Zouk announces £30m investment into Green Hedge

Zouk announces £30m investment into Green Hedge

- July 2017

Zouk Capital today announced a £30m investment into Green Hedge Energy UK to develop, build and operate the company’s battery energy storage projects across Great Britain. The majority of projects will be built within the next 12 months and will initially target the ancillary service market, a sector that is expected to change significantly over the next few years.

Massimo Resta, Partner at Zouk Capital, said: “We are very happy to be joining forces with Green Hedge. The Green Hedge team has a very strong track record in project development, and have done a great job at de-risking the otherwise challenging business case of energy storage. The power sector is changing rapidly due to the rapid growth of renewables and the decommissioning of traditional power generation assets. This creates opportunities for flexible assets such as batteries, and we believe we have the right team to take advantage of those opportunities.”

Niels Kroninger, Managing Director of Green Hedge, said: “Energy storage is the key to a low cost, low carbon energy system. The entire team at Green Hedge are delighted about the investment and look forward to working with Zouk. The investment will enable Green Hedge to build out and operate our battery energy storage projects as a first mover. This investment would not have been possible without Zouk’s energy sector expertise and entrepreneurial attitude.”

December 2016

InstaVolt powers up for growth with £12m investment package

InstaVolt powers up for growth with £12m investment package

- December 2016

Electric vehicle charging company InstaVolt is powering up its ambitious growth strategy thanks to a £12m equity investment from Zouk Capital.

InstaVolt, which provides the rapid charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, plans to use the funding to achieve its target of introducing rapid charging points in more than 3,000 locations by 2020.

It follows news unveiled in November’s Autumn Statement that the Government is to invest £80m in boosting the country’s ultra-low emission charging infrastructure.

Colin Campbell, Partner at Zouk Capital said: “Our confidence in InstaVolt’s experienced management team combined with the company’s distinctive open access rapid charging model lead us to believe that InstaVolt will be one of the frontrunners in this fast growing space. In our view, the rapid charging market is a very important part of the electric vehicle revolution and improving air quality.”

CEO of InstaVolt, Tim Payne, said: “We are fiercely ambitious and rightly so – the electric vehicle market has the potential to dramatically reduce pollution in the UK and this is recognised by the Government through the fact it is investing millions in improving charging infrastructure. The funding from Zouk will allow us to bring our five-year growth plan to fruition, introducing more than 3,000 rapid charging points in the process.”

InstaVolt, headquartered in Basingstoke, aims to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions by making the UK an easier place to drive an electric vehicle. According to Government statistics, one of the biggest barriers that deters people from buying electric vehicles is the fear of not being able to recharge. InstaVolt aims to change this by introducing thousands of rapid charging points all over the country.

Unlike many other providers, InstaVolt’s ‘open charger’ model allows anyone to use its charging points on a pay-as-you-go basis. The 50kW rapid charging units can provide an 80% charge in just 30 minutes and are listed on popular website, zap-map.com, so they are easy to locate.

The company is working with local authorities, businesses and land owners across the UK to install the rapid charging points, which deliver a financial return for those who house them. Among the organisations embracing InstaVolt’s unique solution is Mid Devon Council, which is in the process of installing several charging points across its land.

InstaVolt is able to install its charging points almost anywhere, including at the roadside and in supermarket car parks. It provides a full service, from design and installation to maintenance and monitoring.

zSol’s Italian assets sold to strategic partnership between Econergy and Equitix

zSol’s Italian assets sold to strategic partnership between Econergy and Equitix

- February 2016

Zouk Capital announces its first infrastructure fund zSol (zouk Solar Opportunities Limited) has sold its Italian assets to a strategic partnership between Econergy and Equitix.

The transaction involved a 100% sale of zSOL’s Luxembourg investment company, which had holdings in five Italian project companies.

The total power capacity of these assets is 16.3MWp. The portfolio includes nine solar PV plants all benefiting from Italian feed-in-tariffs.

Zouk acquired the projects as green field sites and constructed and financed the projects with a mix of leasing and project finance facilities from a number of Italian banks, which remain in place post the sale. The projects vary from ground mounted projects in Southern Italy to a large greenhouse in Lazio and an architectural car park shading scheme in Piemonte.

Colin Campbell, Managing Partner of Zouk Capital, said “We are delighted to announce the sale of our Italian assets. With this disposal Zouk’s first successful infrastructure fund has now exited 10 of its 11 investments and exceeded the investment objectives. zSOL remains an active investor in Enviromena in Abu Dhabi which is going from strength to strength in an exciting region for solar without any subsidy. Our second infrastructure fund REEIF II, totals €220m, and continues to build on the team’s skill of investing at the late stage of development in sectors such as wind, solar, waste, geothermal, hydroelectric, biomass. ”

April 2015

Zouk teams up with leading renewable wind expert UrbanWind

Zouk teams up with leading renewable wind expert UrbanWind

- April 2015

Zouk Capital together with leading renewable energy expert UrbanWind today announced one of the largest investment deals in the UK Feed-In Tariff (FiT) wind sector, with a £30 million funding allocation secured from Zouk Capital.

Zouk Capital will provide equity finance to fund turbine schemes nationwide, which have successfully gone through the planning process but currently lack the funding necessary to develop them.

Glasgow-based UrbanWind has around 100 sites currently in the development appraisal phase including consented sites, which are being evaluated for funding approval.

The deal will see Zouk buying consented sites from UrbanWind, which will then develop them through Urban Wind Assets Ltd.

Colin Campbell, Managing Partner at Zouk Capital, said: “We are very happy to be supporting UrbanWind with this innovative funding allocation, which creates an opportunity for developers, farmers and landowners across the UK to unlock the potential of consented sites. Our partnership with UrbanWind offers us an exciting opportunity in on-shore wind and fits our fund’s capital gain strategy well."

Paul McCullagh, CEO of UrbanWind, said: “We are delighted to announce the signing of this ground-breaking deal with Zouk Capital. It will enable UrbanWind to move ahead with our ambitious development plans and is also a fantastic endorsement of the future that wind technology has in the UK. We look forward to working with Zouk to bring wind turbine technology plans off the drawing board and into reality on sites across the country.”

Mr McCullagh also revealed that UrbanWind is looking to acquire more consented sites for wind turbine projects, as it continues to develop its strategy in partnership with Zouk.

About UrbanWind

Urban Wind Ltd are a leading Glasgow and Preston based Renewable Energy Developer who undertake full end to end project delivery of small and medium wind projects throughout the UK.

GIB’s £28.25m investment was made via UK Waste & Resource & Energy Investments (UKWREI), the Foresight-managed fund, in which GIB is a cornerstone investor. This is the eighth investment made by the fund, which has now fully deployed £78m having mobilised capital in excess of £350m.

The project is also backed by an equity investment from Levenseat Limited and senior debt from Investec Bank plc.This will be the first time a UK plant has combined fluidised bed gasification technology with Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), processed by the MRF.

The MRF will recover plastics, metals, paper and card for recycling. The project is forecast to recycle over a million tonnes of materials over its lifetime and will generate the heat required by the MRF.

The development is also forecast to supply electricity equivalent to the needs of nearly 18,000 homes over its expected 25-year lifespan. It is also expected to save 1.4 million tonnes of waste from going into landfill and deliver a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of around 1.3 million tonnes, equivalent to taking over 23,000 cars off the road for every year it operates.

The electricity will be supplied to the national grid with the heat output assisting the operation of the MRF. It will create more than 100 jobs during the construction phase and support 50 full-time jobs when complete.The MRF is expected to become operational in January 2017, with the complete plant commencing operations in June of that year. Given its location near the centre of the M8 corridor, the facility will be well placed to process household waste from several local authorities and commercial waste from the Glasgow and Edinburgh regions.M+W Group has been appointed main (EPC) contractor for the project.

Colin Campbell, Managing Partner, Zouk Capital LLP, said:“We are excited to be involved in this pioneering and strategically well placed project. Zouk’s distinct power sector and project finance approach to investing in infrastructure allowed us to deliver this complex project and for it to be one of the few Advanced Conversion Technology projects to be built under the UK Government’s Renewables Obligation regime.”

Shaun Kingsbury, Chief Executive, UK Green Investment Bank, said:“This first-of-kind project is the latest innovative example of how the UK is modernising its waste management infrastructure. By increasing recycling and using the remaining waste to produce energy, the Levenseat project will make a significant contribution towards Scotland’s ‘zero waste plan’.”

James Samworth, Director, Foresight Group, said:“The Levenseat EfW plant and MRF will be a significant boost to waste infrastructure capacity in Scotland. The high tech EfW plant will benefit from the certainty of supply and the superior feedstock quality delivered by the high-specification MRF plant adjacent to the plant, which itself will benefit from the heat generated, improving efficiency of operation and maximising power output."

Peter MacLaren, Director, Levenseat, said:“Levenseat is delighted to be delivering a first-of-kind technology to the UK market. This is further evidence of our commitment to developing new environmental and economic solutions for waste management and with the construction of our new plant together with our wider established facility we will be delivering to the market Scotland’s largest integrated facility providing treatment and recovery for a wide range of waste materials. We look forward to announcing further details shortly regarding the technology being used and our programme of Community Benefits including opportunities for local recruitment. We are also actively pursuing the opportunity to supply spare heat from the new plant to local homes.”

Neil Bennett, Sector Lead Waste to Energy, M+W Group, said:“We are delighted to be appointed as the EPC contractor for this impressive project. M+W Group has proven expertise in the design, process engineering and construction of major complex projects, using project finance and other funding mechanisms. We are looking forward to successfully delivering the new infrastructure that will enable Levenseat to play a strategically important role in helping Scotland achieve its long term, low-carbon future.”

About the projectTotal project value: £111mTotal GIB indirect investment: £28.5m equityInvestors: GIB, Zouk Capital, Levenseat LimitedEnvironmental impact: recovery and recycling of over a million tonnes of materials over its lifetime, reduction in lifetime greenhouse gas emissions of over 1,300,000 tonnes, equivalent to taking over 23,000 cars off the roadEnergy generation: 75GWh of electricity produced per yearFeedstock supply: from adjacent MRF facility with capacity to process 215,000 tpa

September 2014

Freetricity signs a new contract with Zouk Capital to build a second portfolio of distributed solar PV systems

Freetricity signs a new contract with Zouk Capital to build a second portfolio of distributed solar PV systems

- September 2014

Freetricity has signed a second contract with Zouk Capital, the infrastructure and private equity fund manager investing in the clean economy, to install up to 10,000 free residential solar PV systems in the South of England and South Wales. Freetricity’s first contract involved the installation of 3,000 rooftops systems as part of the 7,000 unit portfolio that Zouk sold to Aviva Investors in July 2014.

The investment model enables homeowners and social housing residents to benefit from free use of the electricity generated by the solar PV systems. The systems are installed at no cost to the residents and can reduce household power bills substantially, which helps to relieve many from fuel poverty.

In announcing the deal, David Plummer, Freetricity’s CEO, said, “We are delighted to be working with Zouk again. This contract continues a very successful working relationship and is part of Freetricity’s wider strategy to become a clean energy utility.”

Colin Campbell, Managing Partner at Zouk Capital said, “We were the pioneers of distributed solar projects of this type in the UK. Distributed solar PV remains an extremely efficient method of power generation, has a strong carbon benefit and provides fuel poverty relief, while at the same time fits our fund’s capital gain strategy.”

Zouk were represented in the transaction by Eversheds and Freetricity by Bird and Bird.

September 2014

Zouk Capital raises €220m for its second European renewable energy infrastructure fund

Zouk Capital raises €220m for its second European renewable energy infrastructure fund

- September 2014

Zouk Capital LLP today announces the raising of €220m for its second infrastructure fund, Renewable Energy & Environmental Infrastructure Fund II (REEIF II). The fund is dedicated to financing the construction and operational improvement of infrastructure assets within niche and underinvested markets such as waste-to-energy, geothermal, biomass, storage, energy efficiency and distributed small-scale energy across Europe. The investment strategy aims to generate capital gain returns by bridging the funding gap between developers and long-term final acquirers of infrastructure assets. A range of global institutional investors have made commitments, from public pension funds and sovereign wealth funds to insurance companies, funds of funds, corporates and large family offices. Zouk stopped taking new commitments for the fund on 31. March 2014.

Samer Salty, CEO of Zouk Capital said, “We are delighted to announce the oversubscribed closing of our second infrastructure fund, REEIF II. Zouk’s infrastructure Partners, Colin Campbell and Erich Becker, offer a genuinely differentiated approach to investing in Europe’s renewable energy market, one which the success of our first fund demonstrates by combining high returns, specialist sector expertise and rigorous risk management. Zouk’s team is one of few proven to have the skills to capitalise on the renewable energy opportunity and generate strong realised returns.”

Colin Campbell commented, “The fund’s investors share our view that combining a range of sectors and project finance discipline is key to a successful investment programme in these fast-changing markets.” Erich Becker added, “As the renewable energy sector transitions from subsidies into the mainstream energy market, the team’s long track records in engineering, power operations, energy trading and renewables position the fund extremely well.”

Zouk Capital now has €600m under management focused on building a cleaner economy with a dual track strategy of Growth Capital and Infrastructure funds.

Aviva Investors and Zouk Capital are pleased to announce the acquisition by Aviva Investors of a second portfolio of residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems totalling 11.3MW and installed on over 3,700 properties across the UK from Zouk’s first infrastructure fund, Zouk Solar Opportunities Ltd (ZSOL). Aviva Investors acquired the first portfolio of 8.6MW on over 3,200 properties across the UK in July 2013. This brings the total size of the two transactions to circa 20MW on 7,000 properties with a value of approximately £76m.

The ZSOL portfolio was developed and financed by Zouk over 2011-2014. The investment model enables homeowners and social housing residents to benefit from free use of the electricity generated by the solar PV systems. The systems were installed at no cost to the residents and can reduce household power bills substantially, which helps to relieve many from fuel poverty.

Ian Berry, Fund Manager, Infrastructure & Renewable Energy at Aviva Investors said: “As we continue to expand our activities in the European infrastructure market, we see strong interest from clients in opportunities such as this, which combine Aviva Investors’ expertise and innovative approach with the underlying positive features of the assets themselves – reduced energy bills for homeowners and social housing tenants through renewable energy generation. We are delighted to have invested in such high quality infrastructure assets offering attractive yields.”

Colin Campbell, Partner, Zouk’s Infrastructure team said: “We are delighted to have completed the sale of the second ZSOL portfolio, one of the largest portfolios of free residential roofs in the UK, to Aviva Investors. These portfolios are an excellent example of why distributed solar PV is such an efficient method of power generation, has a strong carbon benefit and provides fuel poverty relief.”

Freetricity, one of the UK’s largest installers of free solar panels, were the solar installer and asset manager of the majority of solar panels involved in the transaction and also sold their interests in the portfolio to Aviva Investors.

Advisors on the deal were Clifford Chance (legal) OST Energy (technical) and AgFe (financial) for Aviva Investors and Eversheds (legal) for Zouk Capital.

Aviva Investors and Zouk Capital are pleased to announce the acquisition by Aviva Investors of an 8.6MW portfolio of residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed on over 3,000 properties across the UK from Zouk’s first infrastructure fund, Zouk Solar Opportunities Ltd (ZSOL).

The ZSOL portfolio was developed and financed by Zouk over 2011-2013. The investment model enables homeowners and social housing residents to benefit from free use of the electricity generated by the solar PV systems. The systems were installed at no cost to the residents and can reduce net household power consumption substantially, which helps to relieve many from fuel poverty. The electricity generated by the portfolio over its lifetime will result in avoided carbon emissions of around 90,000 tonnes.

The acquisition represents a further addition to the existing portfolio of investments in solar PV systems by the Aviva Investors REaLM Infrastructure Fund. The Fund focuses on a range of UK infrastructure projects, with particular focus on the energy and energy efficiency sectors. The Fund’s portfolio of residential PV systems now exceeds 50MW of installed capacity.

The PV systems are scheduled to deliver predictable, RPI-linked returns with each system eligible for OFGEM-regulated Feed-in Tariffs for every unit of electricity generated for 20/25 years. The homeowners, including a significant number of social housing tenants, will continue to make substantial savings on their electricity bills for the lifetime of the assets.

Ian Berry, Fund Manager – Infrastructure & Renewable Energy at Aviva Investors said:“We continue to expand our activities in the UK infrastructure market and in UK renewables in particular and once again are delighted to have invested in such high quality infrastructure assets offering attractive yields. We believe that infrastructure opportunities such as this offer the potential to invest in assets which offer secure and long-dated income streams in order for our clients to meet their future liabilities.”

Colin Campbell, Partner, Zouk’s Clean Infrastructure team said:

“We have created one of the largest portfolios of free residential-scale solar in the UK for Zouk's first infrastructure fund, ZSOL. By selling this portfolio to Aviva, we continue to demonstrate the value of Zouk’s infrastructure strategy: creating de-risked, long-term infrastructure assets for institutional investors to generate capital gain. In line with Zouk’s investment philosophy, these returns carry real ESG value: distributed solar PV is an efficient method of power generation, has a strong carbon benefit and provides fuel poverty relief. We are delighted to have worked with Aviva on this transaction and hope to be able to work together again in the future.”

Zouk’s Clean Infrastructure investment funds finance the construction of new high-yielding assets, by acquiring, developing and funding infrastructure projects during the late-stage of development and investing across a broad range of renewable energy and environmental sectors, including distributed energy, energy efficiency, waste to energy and geothermal.

The Aviva Investors REaLM (Returns Enhancing and Liability Matching) strategy contains five funds investing in Infrastructure, Energy Centres, Ground Rents, Social Housing and Commercial Assets. The strategy aims to hedge against inflation risks and generate returns in excess of liabilities. The objective of the REaLM Infrastructure Fund is to achieve investment returns substantially in excess of the rate of return generated by long-dated index-linked gilts by investing in infrastructure investments which offer secure, long-term and inflation-linked income streams.

Aviva InvestorsAviva Investors is the global asset management business of Aviva plc. The business delivers investment management solutions, services and client-driven performance to clients worldwide. Aviva Investors operates in 15 countries in Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and the United Kingdom with assets under management of £245 billion at 30 June 2013.

November 2011

Zouk announces addition of Dr. Erich Becker as a Partner

Zouk announces addition of Dr. Erich Becker as a Partner

- November 2011

Zouk Capital LLP, formerly zouk ventures ltd (“Zouk”), is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Erich Becker as a new Partner. Dr Becker will co-lead the infrastructure team with Colin Campbell. Zouk’s infrastructure strategy focuses exclusively on the renewable energy & environmental sectors and has a strong track record of financing late-stage development and greenfield assets.

Erich brings a wealth of experience in energy infrastructure investment from some of the world’s leading financial institutions. He joins Zouk from Macquarie Bank, where he was a Senior Managing Director responsible for creating and managing a merchant banking approach to commodity investments. Erich previously worked at Och-Ziff Capital Management and Goldman Sachs, focusing in both roles on principal investment in energy assets. He has an extensive track record of investment in renewable energy and environmental infrastructure, including assets in the geothermal, waste-to-energy, emission abatement and wind sectors.

Erich’s professional career has been built on his doctoral studies in process engineering, following which he had operational experience in the management of power generation assets. This valuable experience aligns with Zouk’s strategy of active investment management; providing its portfolio companies and infrastructure partners with a valuable combination of operational knowledge and financial expertise.

Samer Salty, CEO of Zouk Capital, commented:

“Erich is an energy infrastructure expert of the highest calibre. He offers Zouk deep sector expertise, covering principal investment, corporate finance, commodity trading and fund management. His considerable skills and networks will complement those of Colin Campbell, who has led Zouk’s infrastructure activities with great success since 2007. Erich joins at a key moment for the infrastructure team, as we commence fundraising for a second infrastructure fund to invest in European renewable energy and environmental infrastructure projects, an area which offers huge growth potential. Erich will add real value as we enter this exciting period of our development.”

Erich Becker added:

“Zouk has a market-leading international team with a strong record of financing quality assets in the renewable energy and environmental infrastructure sector. The firm’s expertise in both cleantech and renewable and environmental infrastructure investments allows Zouk to realise synergies and create value for our investors and the assets and companies we invest in. I’m especially pleased to be joining Zouk at such an exciting time for the infrastructure side of the business, and I look forward to working closely with Colin and the rest of the team on the fundraising and investment of the new fund over the coming months.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Dr. Erich Becker

Erich Becker will co-lead Zouk’s Infrastructure team with Colin Campbell. He draws on 15 years of experience in energy infrastructure investment at Macquarie, Och-Ziff and Goldman Sachs, having specialised in the design, engineering and optimisation of various energy infrastructure assets prior to working in the financial sector.

Before joining Zouk, Erich was Senior Managing Director at Macquarie Bank; he created and managed a merchant banking approach to commodity markets at this renowned infrastructure investment institution. Prior to Macquarie, he was an energy sector specialist at Och-Ziff Capital Management Group and an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs; at both he focused on principal investment in the energy sector. Erich has a PhD in Process Engineering from the Technical University of Vienna, focused on financing, design and optimisation of power plants. He also holds an MBA from the Vienna School of Economics and Business Administration.

About Zouk Capital LLP

Zouk Capital, formerly Zouk Ventures Ltd, is an independent London-based private equity fund manager with a focus on the European cleantech market. Zouk’s goal is to create sustainable long term returns by building strong companies and projects with tangible financial and environmental value. Zouk specifically invests in two areas of this growth market: clean technology companies and renewable energy & environmental infrastructure. Through increased market intelligence, this strategy optimises the potential for value creation in the sector. Currently Zouk manages three cleantech-focused funds: two expansion-stage private equity funds investing in clean technology companies; and a renewable infrastructure fund focused on solar project development. Cleantech Europe II, the second clean technology fund, closed at €230 million and is the largest of its type in Europe. Zouk’s investment teams consist of professionals with a diverse experience base, including private equity, engineering, corporate management, investment banking and consultancy.

zouk Solar Opportunities Ltd (“zSOL”) and NextEnergy Capital (“NEC”) have completed a 2.8 MW solar photovoltaic (“PV”) power plant in Recetto, Novara. The €14 million power plant, constructed by TerniEnergia, was inaugurated on 24 October in a ceremony involving the local authorities and the plant’s investors.

Recetto Energia, a special-purpose company managed by zSOL and NEC, has completed the construction and grid-connection of a 2.8 MW building-integrated solar PV power plant by the Sesia Water Sports Centre, near Recetto in the Province of Novara, Italy.

The PV panels are integrated into the shading structures of a 48,000 square metre car park with the capacity for 1,140 cars. The plant was constructed in four months; a record time for a project of this type and scale. Fully operational, the plant is expected to have an annual electricity production of 3,200 MWh, meeting the needs of 1,100 houses and offsetting 1,700 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

The project was sponsored by zSOL, which is managed by zouk ventures ltd (“zouk”), as majority shareholder. NEC Group subsidiaries managed the development, construction, supervision and financing of the project. A project finance debt facility of €12 million was provided by Centrobanca, the investment bank arm of UBI Banking Group. The EPC contractor was Terni Energia, a listed Italian company which specialises in the design, construction and operation of solar photovoltaic systems, using Sunpower panels and PowerOne inverters.

Colin Campbell, Partner of zouk said, “The speed of construction and connection of Recetto is the pace which we aspire to in the execution of our solar projects. Italy is a great region to be investing in at the moment, offering a combination of knowledge, local support and expertise which enables investors like zSOL build out quality projects like Recetto Energia. Indeed, by the end of the year, we expect zSOL to have an operational portfolio of 17 MW of solar PV plants in the country and a larger still construction pipeline.”

Christian Rossi, the Principal at NEC, said, “The success of this project can be attributed to the collaboration between NEC, zSOL and the Recetto authorities. Together we have built a strong working relationship which will help the development of further renewable energy projects in the region. This partnership model is a distinctive approach to development and we look forward to expanding our offering to other local authorities and providing their regions with the associated economic benefits of renewable power.”

Enrico Bertone, Mayor of Recetto added, “The municipality of Recetto has reached an exciting milestone with the installation of this solar project. The scale and design of the plant are like nothing which has been before in the region; it really demonstrates our commitment to the local development of a low carbon economy built on clean energy. I am proud to see such effective execution of a project which will not only reduce our dependence on polluting sources of energy, but will also generate a strong revenue stream for the local community.”

September 2010

zouk appoints cleantech pioneer Dr. Sven Hansen as Venture Partner

zouk appoints cleantech pioneer Dr. Sven Hansen as Venture Partner

- September 2010

zouk ventures is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Sven Hansen as Venture Partner. As one of the world’s most long-standing cleantech investors, Dr. Hansen brings in his valuable experience in advisory, investment banking and private investment practices of the industry. Dr. Sven Hansen is one of the pioneers in cleantech investing with unique multidisciplinary experience in the field of sustainable finance and investment spanning over 20 years. Since his appointment as Global Head of Environmental Risk Management at UBS, Dr. Hansen has spent much of his career raising the profile of environmental issues and successfully investing in and supporting the cleantech industry. Over the last decade, he has been engaged in growing some of the world’s most successful solar companies across Europe, Asia and North America, such as Q-Cells, REC, Solarcentury, Solarfun and Trina.

Dr. Hansen has already worked with zouk on several occasions as co-investor through Good Energies’ investments in leading solar companies. As a Venture Partner at zouk, he will focus on investments and will work alongside both the cleantech and infrastructure teams.

Samer Salty, CEO of zouk ventures commented: “We are all very excited to welcome Sven to our team. He is a highly respected figure in the industry with a direct hand in building some of cleantech’s most successful businesses from their very early days. Zouk is today one of Europe’s leading cleantech asset management firms, and Sven’s expertise in the sector is invaluable to our ambitious growth plans.”

Sven Hansen commented: “I have come to know the zouk team well over the last few years and I am proud to be part of it. Their philosophy, investment principles and hands-on approach make zouk an exciting business. I am looking forward to the opportunity to grow the company and its investments.”

About Dr Sven HansenSven Hansen is one of the pioneers in the cleantech industry with experience in the field of sustainable finance and investment spanning over 20 years. Having created the role of Global Head of Environmental Risk Management at UBS, Dr. Hansen has spent much of his career raising the profile of environmental issues and successfully investing in and supporting the cleantech industry. From UBS, he moved into senior financial and operational management roles in energy finance in the US, Europe and Africa.

As partner at Black Emerald, founder of InErgies Capital and Chief Investment Officer of Good Energies Dr. Hansen consolidated his position as one of the world’s most experienced cleantech investors, with exposure to the advisory, investment banking and private investment practices of the industry. Over the last decade he has been engaged in growing some of the world’s largest solar companies across Europe, Asia and North America such as Concentrix, Norsun, Q-Cells, REC, Solarcentury, Solarfun, Trina. Dr. Hansen has been involved in investments in over 40 cleantech companies and in listing four companies (QCE, REC, SOLF, TSL).

Sven Hansen studied at the Universities of Basel and St. Gallen where he earned his Ph.D. in 1992 on Environmental Risk Management. His work has been published in several books and numerous articles in leading newspapers and business magazines.

June 2009

Zouk invests in a 2MW solar project in Italy

Zouk invests in a 2MW solar project in Italy

- June 2009

zouk ventures ltd (“zouk”), manager of the €52m solar project investment vehicle zouk Solar Opportunities Ltd (“zSOL”), and Next Energy Capital (“NEC”), a European merchant bank specialised in the renewable energy sector, today announce their joint investment in a 2MW development-stage photovoltaic (“PV”) solar project in Puglia, Italy. The project, NextPower 1, represents the first in a pipeline of projects which zSOL and NEC will develop in partnership.

The NextPower 1 solar power plants will be built and operated by Enerqos, one of the leading PV contractors in Italy. The project is situated on two sites, each of 1MW. One will utilise a dual-axis tracker technology developed by Enerqos. The second site will be built on a traditional ground mounted, fixed axis system. Both sites benefit from close proximity to local electricity grid connections. Over their lifetime, the two power plants will produce over 67 million kWh, representing a saving of approximately 36,000 tons of CO2. The solar plants are expected to become operational in late 2009, from when they will start to receive the premium feed-in-tariff for the electricity produced. It is intended that the plants will be managed by WiseEnergy, a solar asset management company controlled by NEC. NEC made their investment through NextPower, a platform designed to invest in solar parks. zouk has invested with an initial 49% stake with the right to raise its participation to 65%. The overall investment totals €14.5m.

Project financing with a line of credit for €12.5m is being provided by the Italian bank Centrobanca, an institution with which zouk and NEC have strong relations. “Centrobanca offered us financing with very competitive terms. In these credit-constrained markets this is testament to the quality of the project and the management teams behind it”, said Stefano Sommadossi, Co-CEO of NEC.

“Long-standing local relationships with financing institutions, state authorities and developers position NEC as a strong Italian partner for zSOL”, said Colin Campbell, managing partner of zSOL at zouk. “We see NEC as a valuable partner in developing our presence in Italy, a strategic market for us. NEC and zouk are now well positioned to build a significant pipeline of projects together over the next 2 years. The realisation of this pipeline will be an important step towards meeting the challenging targets we have set for development in Italy”.

Stefano Sommadossi said of the relationship, “NextEnergy Capital brings the development work it has made over the past years in the Italian solar sector, contributing outstanding projects, arranging debt financing and turn-key contracts for construction and maintenance, as for this first project. The zouk team complements ours very effectively. We are excited to be working in partnership with an equity investor of such standing to build out what we believe to be one of Italy’s leading solar PV pipelines”.

About zouk ventures

Founded in 1999, zouk ventures is a London based investment manager focusing on expansion stage capital in cleantech markets as well as renewable and environmental infrastructure opportunities. zouk currently manages two technology funds and invests in solar infrastructure projects through zouk Solar Opportunities Ltd. zouk has been a leading investor in the carbon market for ten years and is a founding member of the Cleantech Venture Network in Europe. For more information please visit www.zouk.com

About Next Energy Capital

Next Energy Capital is a London -based merchant bank focused on the renewable energy sector in Europe. In the field of private equity, NextEnergy Capital promotes, co-finances and manages funds whose objectives are to identify, acquire, realise and manage investment platforms in the renewable energy sector, in particular power plants in Europe, with the brand name NextPower. In the field of Financial Advisory, NextEnergy Capital undertakes mandates involving M&A and capital market transactions for clients wishing to expand their presence in the renewable energy market. For more information please visit www.nextenergycapital.com

zouk today announces the launch of zouk Solar Opportunities Limited (“zSOL”), a closed-ended investment company. zSOL will be managed by zouk and will develop and own a portfolio of solar power projects in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

zSOL will provide investment equity in a diversified portfolio of solar projects in areas where optimal conditions, regulatory support and tariff structures create a suitable investment profile. zSOL will target projects in their development phase that utilize proven solar technologies with an initial focus on solar photovoltaic plants. zSOL has already identified a pipeline of suitable projects and is looking to build approximately 40MW within the next 12 months.

Colin Campbell, the zouk Partner dedicated to infrastructure, said, “zSOL’s focus on solar infrastructure projects represents a significant investment opportunity. This is an exciting time for solar with strong regulatory and financial support, rapid capacity growth and on-going technological advances.”

Samer Salty, CEO of zouk, commented, “zouk has developed solid expertise in the industry with investments in solar technology and distribution companies. zSOL will allow us to leverage our knowledge in the solar space and take advantage of solar infrastructure opportunities.”

John Mapplebeck, Non-Executive Chairman of zSOL, said, “I am pleased to say that zSOL was oversubscribed in raising an initial €52m. This will allow us to take advantage of a strong project pipeline and is particularly encouraging given that we intend raising follow-on funding with a full listing next year. I look forward to working with Colin and the rest of the zouk team to make zSOL a success.”

About zouk Solar Opportunities Limited:

zouk Solar Opportunities Limited (“zSOL”) is a €52m closed-ended investment company managed by zouk. The main role of zSOL is origination, development and ownership of solar infrastructure projects. zSOL will build approximately 40MW within the next 12 months and will target projects in their development phase in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.